grotesque characters descend from the mountains and invade Lucerne when, at the thunder of a loud bang, the so-called «Urknall», officially kicks off Carnival of Lucerne. It is then that hundreds of strange characters with masks and imaginative costumes show up through the streets, while the musicians combine the sound of their instruments to the general cacophony to make thousands of visitors dance and sing away the winter.
The Fat Thursday, February 4, will leave the first procession, the so-called «Fritschiumzug», which celebrates satirical art with patriotic, historical and folkloric themes.
The city of lights becomes so suddenly a wild spectral stage dominated only by imaginary figures that invade the city with their masks and colorful costumes.
Monday, 8 February, parade the procession of «Weyumzug» accompanied by «Guggemuusige», transvestite groups, which with their instruments to breath and percussion, play famous melodies, in a performance far from masterful.
Their musical wandering is interspersed with theatrical scenes and improvisations in which the public is involved and made part of a moment of complete play and madness.
The Carnival of Lucerne ends on Tuesday, 9 February, with the «Monstercourse», the parade of monsters, followed by a great parade of big bands, lights and lanterns.
After the parade all the masks wander around the city, playing and making the old buildings rebound, giving so happy vent to the last barrels and the last follies to permanently expel the ghosts of winter.
Every year, a substantial prize is recognized to the mask that more than any other represents the spirit of the Lucernese carnival. The only condition of admission is that the mask covers the whole face.
