Celebrating Fašiangy

Fašiangy is a traditional Slovak carnival celebration that takes place right before Lent.  It's basically the Slovak version of Mardi Gras. Look through the album to learn more about this holiday!

Location: 
Martin, Slovakia

Photos

Mural depicting kroj in the city of Martin...Kroj is the name for traditional Slovak clothes and each region in Slovakia has their own pattern
Some friends and I posed with the turoň (bull) character... the bull symbolizes strength and fertility
Doughnuts are traditionally given out during Fašiangy (called "donuty" in Slovak)...they look very similar to the Polish Pączki doughnuts that are eaten during Mardi Gras in the U.S.
Fašiangy marks the beginning of Lent (40 day Catholic period before Easter) when people reflect and practice self denial...Traditional Fašiangy parades bury a bass at the end, which symbolizes the end of music/"the party" until Easter
Handmade crafts that people were selling at the Fašiangy celebration
Papers showing all the traditional characters in Fašiangy parades, including koník s jazdcom (horse with rider), turoň (the bull), koza (the goat), medveď (the bear), čert (the demon) and slamekník (the strawman)
The parade took place in a museum with old Slovak buildings... this is what a Slovak school room used to look like until after World War II
Inside of an old Slovak house...the hanging fabric above the bed is where babies used to sleep!

Videos

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