Fasnacht: A fiery farewell to Old Man Winter

Yahoo

02-03-2025

HELVETIA, W.Va. (WBOY) — Helvetia celebrated winter and the changing of the seasons on Saturday with its annual Fasnacht tradition, with the German term 'Fasnacht' meaning 'Fasting Night,' marking the occasion with an elaborate feast before the fasting period begins.
Fasnacht is a yearly celebration in Helvetia, a quaint Swiss village in Randolph County founded in 1869 by Swiss and German immigrants. Originating in Switzerland in the 1520s, Fasnacht is often dubbed the Mardi Gras of Appalachia. President of the Helvetia Restoration and Development Organization Clara Lehmann explained the event further.
'These masks are worn in order to scare away Old Man Winter, but also to hide your identity and enjoy a party where no one knows maybe who's behind the mask,' Lehmann said. 'You will see everything from a mask that may feature something scary like a beast or you might see a flower that is scary to Old Man Winter.'
Attendees indulged in rich foods, enjoyed Swiss and Appalachian music, wore homemade masks to ward off Old Man Winter, paraded with lanterns and took part in burning an effigy of Old Man Winter, all in the hope of ushering in a healthy and joyful spring.
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'Swiss cheese and the different recipes that are held by our elders and now hopefully being passed down to each individual are very important. Food is something that tells you a story, and we're very proud of the fact that our elders and our younger individuals are wanting to continue to do that and hold onto those recipes,' Lehmann added. 'Helvetia is one of the first granted the right to make their cheese without pasteurizing, and so we've been able to hold onto that tradition of making your cheese within your home and selling it to the public.'
The event also included several live musical performances, two historic tours, a masquerade and mask judging competition, and an Alpine-Appalachian square dance at the Helvetia Community Hall to wrap up the evening's festivities.
'Part of the mission of Helvetia Restoration and Development Organization is to preserve and restore buildings but also preserve the culture of our community and this region. So, we want to make sure that we hold onto food ways,' Lehmann said. 'These are really cool and unique traditions that I think people are hungry to see. They want to experience authentic immigrant experiences and this is something special.'
All proceeds from ticket sales for the event benefit the village's restoration, development, and archives of the Helvetia community.
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