Buchen Carnival (Faschenacht)

The famous “Buchener Faschenacht”, with a tradition reaching back over 500 years, has turned Buchen into the carnival centre of the Baden part of Franconia.

The carnival association “FG Narrhalla” was founded in 1879 by the amalgamation of individual carnival societies. Hundreds of “Huddelbätzen”, the famous Buchen carnival figure, entertain the crowd with their singing and dancing. They are present at the traditional Buchen “Gänsemarsch” on Carnival Sunday and the big procession on Shrove Monday.

The well-known Buchen carnival slogan “Hinne houch” (‘up at the back’) can be heard in all the colourfully decorated streets and alleys. Also present at every event is the “Buchener Blecker”, the medieval symbol of the Buchen carnival. Everyone has to pay their respect by kissing its backside, a ‘must’ during the carnival week. The importance of the Buchen Faschenacht becomes obvious when looking at the success of the “FG Narrhalla” which has hosted the international carnival festival (Narrentreffen) three times already, in 1980, 1990 and 2002. With their colourful appearance and their temperament they impress local and international audiences. Their connections reach far beyond the city limits. More information on the Buchen Faschenacht: www.huddelbaetze.de

The different Buchen neighbourhoods also cultivate their carnival traditions. During the carnival week, not only the “Narrhalla”, but also the “Hettemer Fregger”, the “Heeschter Berkediebe”, the “Getzemer Narre”, the “Götzianer Heddebör”, the “Hauschemer Klingemänner” and the “Beddemer Hannmertli” all know how to party!

The Carnival days in Buchen (Odenwald)

The ‘Ausscheller’ and his companions initiate the Buchen Carnival on ‘Dirty Thursday’. In the evening the “Free-night” begins all over town with the performance of a carnival play in front of the old town hall. During all the carnival days this clownish behaviour dominates life indoor as well as outside.

Every year the traditional “Gänsmarsch” takes place on the Sunday at 2.11 pm in Buchen. Amongst the participants are the traditional Buchen carnival figures such as the “Erbsenstrohbär”, “Härle” and “Fräle”, the “Wagenradsänger” (‘cartwheel singers’) and various noisy bands. The “Gänsmarsch” is some kind of carnival trial in the form of a procession. Different disguised groups gather in unorganised formation to criticise and lampoon local events of the past year. A big host of “Huddelbätze” leads the procession. One distinctive group are the “Müller “ (miller) who already start their own procession one hour before the “Gänsmarsch” begins. The day ends at midnight with the “Narrengericht” (the fool’s trial).

Thousands of people come to the “Blecker” town Buchen on Shrove Monday to participate in the Shrove Monday procession.

The last carnival day begins with a traditional “Frühschoppen” (morning pint), followed by the children’s procession and the “kids’ afternoon”. 
The crying of the “Huddelbätze” resounds when the town’s marching band plays 'Kerl wach uff...' (‘man wake up’) one last time at midnight and the Buchen carnival is being incinerated.

The dates for all events in Buchen and its neighbourhoods during ‘the 5th season’ can be found in the calendar of events (German)

Guildhall of the "FG Narrhalla Buchen e.V." 

The persons in charge of the Buchen Faschenacht have for years been collection costumes, medals, publications and documents which are on display in the guildhall.

Guildhall of the FG Narhalla Buchen
Vorstadtstraße 32 • 74722 Buchen 
Guides can be booked at the tourist office

The Narrenringstube (Carnival Jester’s Parlour) 

The carnival base of the Narrenring Main-Neckar e.V. is the area of the eastern Odenwald, Bauland and the Tauber valley – right in between the Rhine area carnival in the north and the Alemannic Fasnet (carnival) in the South.
The Narrenringstube is housed in the Zehntscheune (Tithe Barn) in the museum grounds in Buchen. On display are examples of the carnival tradition, carnival figures such as the Huddelbätze from Buchen, the Äschesäck from Hettingen, the Erbsenstrohbären from Osterburken, the Faschebouze from Lauda and many others. Opening times and guided tours on request.

FG Narrhalla Buchen e.V. •
Unterer Hainstadter Weg 18 •
74722 Buchen (Odenwald)
Phone: +49 6281 51856 •
Fax: +49 6281 521530
www.huddelbaetze.com

Tourist Office Buchen
Platz am Bild • 74722 Buchen
Phone +49 6281 278
Fax +49 6281 2732