On the Monday after Ash Wednesday, the city awakes with the «Morgestraich». When the clocks strike four, all the lights in the city centre are extinguished.

From thousands of piccolos the traditional and somewhat archaic-sounding melody of the «Morgestraich» is played by thousands of piccolos and fills every street and alley of the city.

The only light sources are the big lanterns of the Fasnacht groups, the pole lanterns of the preceding «Vortrab» who clear the way for them, and the head lanterns on the masks of all participants. On the Monday and Wednesday afternoon, all registered groups («Cliques») march in procession on a prescribed route through the streets on both sides of the Rhine.

On Tuesday, countless small groups of children practice cultivating our tradition. A highlight of the carnival is the lantern exhibition on the Münsterplatz, where the more than two hundred lanterns are impressively placed on display. Tuesday evening is given over to the «Guggemusik» groups, who take possession of the city centre with their battered or home-made instruments.

On the Monday and Wednesday afternoon, all registered groups («Cliques») march in procession on a prescribed route through the streets on both sides of the Rhine.

On Tuesday, countless small groups of children practice cultivating our tradition. A highlight of the carnival is the lantern exhibition on the Münsterplatz, where the more than two hundred lanterns are impressively placed on display. Tuesday evening is given over to the «Guggemusik» groups, who take possession of the city centre with their battered or home-made instruments.

back to Basel Info