Fastelavn

Fastelavn is celebrated across Denmark on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, seven weeks before Easter. Although it began as the eve of Lent, today it is best known as a children’s costume festival. Kindergartens, schools, sports clubs, housing associations, and town halls often hold their own Fastelavn party, so the celebrations happen in village halls, apartment courtyards, gymnasiums, and schoolyards as well as at home. Children arrive dressed as anything from superheroes to animals and princesses, and the main ritual is slå katten af tønden, “hit the cat out of the barrel.” A wooden barrel is hung up, filled with sweets, and struck in turns with a bat until it breaks.

As the barrel splinters, the sweets spill onto the floor and the children scramble to collect them. Many parties then crown a kattedronning, the child who knocks out the barrel’s bottom, and a kattekonge, the one who brings down the last plank. Paper crowns, bunting, and costume prizes are common, and adults usually watch, take photos, and serve snacks. Another unmistakable part of the season is fastelavnsboller, rich buns sold by Danish bakeries throughout the weeks before Fastelavn; classic versions are filled with whipped cream or custard and topped with icing, while modern pastry-shop versions can be larger and more elaborate. At schools and day-care centres, celebrations often continue with songs, games, and bun-eating.

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