Fastnacht is officially here!!! It was ushered in yesterday at 11.11.07. otherwise know as St. Martin's day!!

It all began Saturday night when I went to meet Ann for the Symphony. I noticed that when I took the bus, we skipped over Schillerplatz, and when I walked to Schillerplatz, it was completely closed down and they were erecting a large stage as well as other large structures right on the square. Now, I knew that 11.11 issued in the Fastnacht season (think Mardi Gras in New Orleans) but I didn't know it was going to be a big party to open the season. So, I went ahead to the symphony, came home and planned to go to Mass the following day (which is a story in and of itself).

When I awoke for mass, I was, to say the least, slightly groggy because the damn hippy commune had been playing their music and singing their high as a kite hippy songs, and I hasn't been able to sleep. So I raced to get my clothes on and make it to the bus so that i could just make it to mass without being officially late. Well, i just made it, but when I entered the Dom, I realized that St. Martin's day is a significant day for people to go to church here in Mainz; there was hardly a place to sit! It was like it was Christmas or easter or something. I mean of course there were some tourists who were there, I mean what kind og tourist would you be if you didn't at least once attend Mass in the Mainz cathedral? Seriously. But, I did indeed find a seat, and then I found out something else which was going to happen that day for Mass, the Archbishop of Mainz himself was going to lead both the mass and say the Homilie. It was awesome. So I settled down to hear, what I thought would be a good mass. As it turned out, they pretty much just talked about St. Martin of Tours and how he was a really good person and we should all strive to be like him, usw, usw, usw. So, then, here comes the good part. Ok, so there are these two signs standing in front of the Dom entrance which say, "Mass is happening, please do not enter the Cathedral unless you are coming for mass" or something to that effect. Well, suddenly as mass is happening, these tourists just walk in and start taking pictures and going around to all of the little side chapels and talking and stuff. And I was like, "WTF?" but they did it anyways. So then they had to be escorted out by the armed guards who come with the Archbishop when he's there. They're dressed like Prussian soldiers, and then have swords and everything. It was awesome!

Ok, back to the Fastnacht. Well, when mass was over, I decided to follow the music and go to Schillerplatz to see what all the fuss was about over Fastnacht...OMG you wouldn't believe it! There were probably 5,000 people in Schillerplatz (actually the announcer totally said that there were about 5,000 people, so I kinda stole that info). Anyways, it was cool. There was music and then these people with these large heads came into the square and officially helped to open the Fastnacht season. But the weird thing is, was that everyone was dressed up just like at Mardi-Gras! I mean, see above photo and that was pretty much the least of it! It was really interesting, and of course even at 11 am, people were drinking/drunk.

So after exploring Schillerplatz for a bit, I went back to my room to wash clothes, which I didn't do because I am a lazy-ass, so I just kinda watched things in the net. Then Jessica called and asked me if I wanted to go to Cafe Extrablatt to eat since it was cheap (and it really is too) though my bill was a little more since I got a drink--a Sex on the Beach--as a matter of fact. And it was good. I asked Jessica if she wanted to go out for drinks or coffee or something, but she didn't b/c of her money situation, and I understand that so it was cool. So instead we walked around Mainz, and I found the tourism department, which was also cool, then we walked back to the Fastnacht celebration which was still going strong at the ripe ole hour of 6pm. So, we went, and they started playing Cotton-eyed Joe, which was really funy to see Germans singing and dancing to,......I wish I had had my camera, because it would have been a sight to remember. We stayed for a bit, but then left afer and went back to campus. Needless to say, we both plan to attend the OFFICIAL Karneval celebrations, and this time to bring our cameras to capture all of the funny things on tape!!