I can tell you a little bit off the top of my head about Fastnacht Day.
First of all, you probably know that it occurs the day before Ash Wednesday,
which marks the beginning of Lent. In England it's called Shrove Tuesday,
and in French it's called Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday"). Of course, in Europe,
in New Orleans, in Mobile, in Canada and in Latino culture, the weeks prior
to Lent are for partying, as in the German Fasching, Fasnacht or Karneval,
the French Mardi Gras or the Italian carnival. It represents a period of
revelry before the solemn period of fasting and self-reflection. In fact,
"Fastnacht" means "Eve of the Fast."
     The Penna. Dutch celebrate only a single day--Fastnacht Day, or Shrove
Tuesday. I heard once that the tradition of eating fastnachts, which are
unleavened, deep-fried doughnuts, originated in Germany hundreds of years
ago (maybe in the Middle Ages?), with the superstition that this would
prevent boils in the coming year. (I don't think this tradition is even
observed in Germany anymore!?) It serves as a way of using up the last of
the lard (and sugar and stuff?) before beginning a fast from sweets (and,
for some Catholics, meat on Fridays).I assume the Shrove Tuesday pancake
suppers we have here serve the same purpose.
     Our family has always observed Fastnacht Day in what I think is the
typical Pennsylvania Dutch way. Everyone eats fastnachts (in our home, at
breakfast), and the last person to get out of bed is called the fastnacht.
But it seems that in some places the festivities once were a bit more
elaborate, although this might not be the case anymore. In Cincinnati, for
example, the children used to dress in costumes and masks--just as is done
during Karneval/carnival/Mardi Gras in Europe and New Orleans. The kids
would go from house to house collecting fastnachts and other goodies. And at
one time, ashes from the fires used to cook the fastnachts were sprinkled on
the cattle and chickens on Ash Wednesday to rid them of lice.
     This last tidbit comes from a book called GERMAN-AMERICAN FOLKLORE,
which was compiled and edited by Mac E. Barrick. Would you like me to see
what else I can find?

  -written by Marge DuVall,  posted by Eric Krieg    und auf deutsh

                                       Marge
 DICTIONARY: fasnacht; fastnacht