For most people, Carnival celebrations are simply a time to relax and reconnect with friends and family in a party atmosphere. But the celebration is inherently linked to religion (as well as pre-Christian traditions) and it’s slightly different in every place that it’s celebrated.

Though the etymology of the word “carnival” is disputed by scholars, the folklore explanation traces the meaning to the Latin words for meat or flesh, carnem, and levare, meaning to remove. Carnival celebrations precede Ash Wednesday which is the official first day of Lent - the 40 days before Easter during which, according to Christian teachings, Jesus fasted in the desert. Historically, Christians were expected to emulate Jesus’ sacrifices by fasting - particularly by abstaining from eating meat - and by using the period as a time of sober reflection on their religion. Therefore, the days leading up to this extended time of somber self-restraint gave rise to Carnival - a sort of release valve for people to indulge in excesses of food, alcohol, and partying as well as a time to overturn deeply-entrenched social norms and roles. Carnival celebrations occur almost exclusively in traditionally Catholic countries and regions.

The Beach or Beer?

Though Southern Dutchies and Eindhoven transplants alike are mostly focused on their own upcoming celebration, many foreigners think of Brazil when they think of Carnival - and its corresponding images of elaborate floats and scantily-clad beauties. However, the reality of Brazilian Carnival is somewhat different from what’s televised to the rest of the world.

José Melo, 22, is a master’s student in the Mathematics and Computer Science Department. He’s from Recife - a coastal city in the northeast of Brazil - and says his city’s Carnival celebrations are famous throughout both Brazil and the rest of the world: “People come from all over to celebrate in Recife. We have the biggest parade in the world which begins at dawn on Saturday with the Galo da Madrugada (“Rooster of the Dawn)”- a giant rooster that is the symbol of this parade. This is the official start of Carnival for us and for the rest of Brazilians.”And contrary to the cliché, José explains that Carnival is not necessarily only about drinking and dancing in the streets. “Lots of people don’t even do the block parties. They just go to the beach with their kids and friends. It’s summer in Brazil so schools are still on vacation. It’s a time to relax. In fact,we usually say that the year only starts after Carnival. People do go to work, of course, but they’re very lazy. Deadlines aren’t too strict during this time.”

Jairo Borgas, 25, is from Rio de Janeiro and a mechanical engineering bachelor’s student at Fontys .“In Rio, we have two types of Carnival. The one you see on television with big cars and all the colors and the real Carnival in the streets. Because this is the time when our country is being broadcast to the rest of the world even poor people will spend a lot of money for a costume. I think Carnival is their moment. People in small villages might spend a whole year preparing to present themselves at Carnival.”

When he was younger, Jairo’s activities during Carnival used to be quite different from how he now celebrates. “Both Catholics and Protestants in Brazil will sometimes do what we call “retiring.” This means that when other people are celebrating the flesh, we’ll go to nurture the spirit - it’s usually a retreat for three days to pray and study the Bible.”

Goodbye, Winter

Carnival in Germany is a creature with many names -Fasching, Fastnacht, Fasnacht, Fasnet or Karneval- and is celebrated slightly differently depending on the region. Torben Schäfer, 25, is a master’s student in the Industrial Engineering & Innovations Science Department and hails from the small city of Crailsheim, about an hour’s drive from Stuttgart. His childhood Fasching celebrations reflect a more pre-Christian focus on nature than anything dictated by the Catholic Church. “The idea was that you would say goodbye to the winter and welcome the spring. When I was in primary school, we’d walk through town making lots of noise to scare winter away. We’d then have a bonfire at the school. There would be other children’s events where you could dress up and eat lots of candy but no big parades or anything like that.”

Master’s student Leander Hartenauer, Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences, is from a small town close to Munster. His town celebrates Karneval and it’s a period when normal social mores are put aside for a few days. “Things in Germany are more formal than in the Netherlands and this is the time when things relax. The whole town gets together and you might, for example, see your friends’ parents at a party and drink and dance with them. People that you would normally treat respectfully are now just friends you hang out with in an informal atmosphere.”

In addition to a distinctly un-German relaxed atmosphere (yes, I’m making a joke, my German friends), Karneval in Leander’s area of Germany is also about flipping social roles. He explains one tradition: “On the Thursday before the main celebrations begin there’s a day called Weiberfastnacht which is only for women. They’re supposed to cut men’s shoelaces or ties and most companies will have a party just for them before throwing one for all of the employees.” In some towns, women are also allowed on this day to grab any passing man they fancy and kiss them.

Both Leander and Torben agree that if you want to experience German Carnival at its best, go to Cologne. Torben’s one experience of it left an impression: “It’s crazy! The entire city comes out to party. They really put a lot of effort into it.” Indeed, Cologne’s Carnival festivities are some of the oldest in the country and many of the traditions of that city - such as using costumes and floats for political satire - stem from periods of occupation when residents used Carnival as a time to vent subversive anti-Prussian and anti-French sentiments.

Limburgers vs. Brabanders

And last, but certainly not least, we have our own Dutch Carnival or Carnaval traditions right here in the south of the Netherlands. Why only the South, you ask? Though the majority of the Dutch are rather irreligious these days and Carnival celebrations are largely divorced from their historically religious overtones, the provinces “below the rivers”were traditionally the Dutch Catholic strongholds through French and Spanish occupation (merci, Napoleon). Meanwhile, Calvinistic Protestantism flourished in the North. (And let’s just say they frowned on partying…)

Like celebrations in other countries, Dutch Carnival is characterized by copious amounts of beer, crazy behavior, costumes and a general break from everyday norms but with one main difference - the debate about who does it better. Limburger Stijn Zanders, 22, is getting his master’s in the Industrial Engineering & Innovations Sciences Department. “Limburgers say that they celebrate the REAL Carnival. I’m from Weert which is on the border between North Brabant and Limburg and I’d say the atmosphere is different in Limburg. People put a lot of money in their costumes and dress up really well and the music is more traditional.”

Applied Mathematics bachelor’s student Arno Coppelmans, 19, is a member of the student organization, GEWIS, and was asked to be the group’s Prince Carnaval for this year’s celebrations. His job is to be the pivot point or leader of the festivities and to represent GEWIS with the university’s other student organizations. He says he feels honored to have been asked. “I didn’t expect it. It means that many people know you and recognize that you know how to talk to others. I always look forward to Carnival but I’m really excited about it this year.” Though the role assumes a different meaning on a university campus, the tradition of electing a Prince Carnaval in the Netherlands (and Germany) - and ceremoniously giving him the keys to the city - was historically a handing over of power to the average citizens and providing them with the opportunity to criticize their “betters” without fear of retribution.

These days, Stijn Zanders isn’t too concerned about who celebrates Carnival the best. He’s more interested in introducing Dutch Carnival to foreigners by organizing events for them through Estiem, the European student network for Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences. “We have students coming this year from Turkey, Hungary, Norway, Italy, even Belarus. For me, Carnival has always been about having a lot of fun and getting out of daily life. You can be someone different. I mainly hope that the students that are coming this year meet more friends and that we all take away some crazy stories. I want them to think back on this time and remember that it was really awesome.”

Carnival? Where and when?

Carnival will be  celebrated from Saturday, February 14th until Wednesday, February 18th. Where to go? Just follow the hordes of dressed-up people in the streets of Eindhoven. You can  also check www.lampegatdegekste.nl.