Celebrating Switzerland’s “Fifth Season” - The Luzern Carnival

Luzern's fantastical carnival

Lucern Carnival | Switzerland | Image by Chantelle Flores

Located in the shadow of majestic Mount, Lucerne, famous for its energetic mood goes wild.

People wearing wonderfully elaborate masks, playing horrendously loud music on trumpets, horns and drums fill its narrow streets.

This is Fasnacht, the Swiss version of carnival.

Lucern Carnival | Switzerland | Image by Chantelle Flores

The Fasnacht celebration

Switzerland Tourism dubs the dates of the Carnival as follows: "Dirty Thursday till Carnival Tuesday prior to Ash Wednesday".

The festival starts on Schmutzig (fat) Thursday, just one week before Ash Wednesday.

Lucern Carnival | Switzerland | Image by Chantelle Flores

On Thursday, a big bang (the Urknall), coming from the town hall at five in the morning, marks the start of Switzerland's “Fifth season”.

The old town is transformed into a festival ground, long before the sun is up.