fashnacht 2011
fashnacht is a 3-day lent celebration held in basel every year. visitors come from all over europe and around the world to experience the carnivale. unlike mardi gras, fashnacht begins the monday following the beginning of lent. it begins at 4am on the monday morning (when the pictures were taken below), and the party continues until 4am thursday morning. day 1 involves this procession throughout the old town by all of the 'cliques'; day 2 all of these fabulous paper lanterns are put on display in the city square, and traditional and contemporary concerts are held throughout the city; day 3 is the big finalie day.