“Fastelavn” or “Shrovetide”
“Fastelavn” is a carnival and in Denmark, it is mostly a party for children.
It is always the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.
The term “Fastelavn” means “fast evening” or the day before Lent.
In Denmark, we are mostly Protestants and “Fastelavn” is now a tradition without the Lent.
“Beat the cat out of the barrel”
“Slå katten af tønden” translates to “Beat the cat out of the barrel”.
It is an old tradition in Denmark and it is like using a piñata.
In Denmark, it is a decorated wooden barrel hanging from a rope.
The barrel is often filled with candy, oranges, small raisin packages and similar stuff.
If “beating the cat out of the barrel” is outside the treats are given to the children after the “beating”.
You beat the barrel with a normal bat until there are no pieces of the barrel left on the rope.
We have a “Kattedronning” – a ”Queen of cats”, it is the person – male or female – who knocks down the bottom of the barrel.
“Kattekongen” – the “King of cats” – is the person – male or female – that get the last of the barrel down.
They are crowned with a golden paper crown, a small one for the “Queen” and a large one for the “King”.
“Beat the cat out of the barrel” – in the old days
Earlier (up to the 19th century) “Fastelavn” was a party for the adults.
They revelled, binging on food and alcohol.
They also dressed up as something scary 👹 – hmm Halloween?
– AND then they “Beat the cat out of the barrel”.
There was a LIVE CAT in the barrel!?!
The cat was a symbol of evil – and to beat it would protect all against evil for the next year.
It is a Dutch tradition that came along with the Dutch potato farmers in the 1500s during the reign of Christian II.
In the old days, it wasn’t a kid’s party, but it is today.
“Beat the cat out of the barrel” – Today
Today when we “Beat the cat out of the barrel”, the cat is made out of cardboard or paper and the cat is glued ON the barrel.
Where I live, ALL ages “beat the cat out of the barrel”
Sunday morning
Out on our street
Freezing cold
At 10 am…
Only the children are dressed up as Batman, Spiderman, ladybirds, princesses….
The grownups are dressed up in their warmest clothes 🙂
There are prices for the “King of cats” – wine for adults and money for the kids.
Getting the last of the barrel down takes FOREVER – when it is the little ones hitting the barrel.
Yes – we have barrels for the toddlers, the young kids, the teenagers, the women and the men.
After all the “beating the cat out of the barrel” the grownups drink coffee and have a “fastelavnsbolle” a “Shrovetide Bun”?
The children get a bag of treats.
And the adult “Fastelavn” outside is over.
The children still dressed up in costumes, go door to door singing the “Fastelavnssang”.
They sing for treats or money.
– the costume and treats bit is like our Danish scary version of Halloween.
Fastelavn er mit navn,
Boller vil jeg have.
Hvis jeg ingen boller får,
Så laver jeg ballade.
Boller op, boller ned
Boller i min mave.
Hvis jeg ingen boller får,
Så laver jeg ballade.
Lokal variant:
Fastelavn er mit navn,
Penge vil jeg have.
Hvis jeg ingen penge får,
Så laver jeg ballade.
Penge op, penge ned
Penge vil jeg have.
Hvis jeg ingen penge får,
Så laver jeg ballade.