Carnival during Corona: "Hats off to what the clubs do"

Created: 02/24/2022, 07:43

By: Marco Tobisch

Hustle and bustle in Mindelheim's old town is not possible on Gumpigen Thursday this year either.

Even without a "visible" program, the clubs are still active.

© wk

Mindelheim/Region – For the second time, a carnival season falls victim to Corona.

Until a few weeks ago, the many clubs in the Unterallgäu district had hoped that the corona numbers would fall in time, that measures would be relaxed and that moves and parties would still be possible.

Although the fifth season is now canceled in its usual form, club life has by no means come to a standstill, as Christoph Spies from Mindelheim, President of the Regional Association of Bavarian-Swabian Carnival Associations (BSF), explains in an interview with the Wochen KURIER.

A proud 25,000 members in almost 145 carnival clubs celebrate the fifth season under the umbrella of the BSF every year - Spies says it's not yet possible to quantify whether there have been fewer club fools due to the forced Corona break.

But his impression: “So far it has not been possible to determine that a disproportionately large number have left.

But every club will have to struggle with the problem.”

What is certain in the meantime is that characteristics that make up carnival will continue to be in demand after the pandemic.

"There is nothing nicer than celebrating together, meeting new people and having fun together - and forgetting the misery of everyday life for a while," says the Mindelheimer.

All this must now pause for the second time.

Asking a lady to dance, circle the floor with her for a few songs and then go to the bar together is hardly feasible with an FFP2 mask and a distance of 1.50 meters, says Spies.

25 percent utilization is not profitable

The rapidly changing corona measures are also a hindrance for the organizers of carnival balls, who need a lot of lead time to organize the location, the band, the decoration and last but not least the program.

As an additional condition, the maximum utilization of 25 percent was added until the end.

Alex Drahotta, President of the Mindelonia Carnival Guild, recently confirmed that it would not be possible to organize carnival balls in the Mindelheim Forum under these circumstances.

Christoph Spies, President of the Regional Association of Bavarian-Swabian Carnival Clubs (BSF) © private

Because most clubs are not worn down by the setbacks and still try to keep the members with special campaigns, BSF President Spies gives special praise to those responsible for the club.

For example, many Guards had resumed training between lockdowns, rehearsing figures and performances.

"Hats off to what the clubs have achieved here," emphasizes Spies.

The clubs were also active beyond that: As the Mindelheimer says, the presentation of handmade speeches was practiced and organizational meetings were held, which, however, were moved to the Internet.

"Meetings can already be held online, but to say 'we're going to do everything online now' is not fun."

Spies cites the exhibition by Mindelheim master painter Hubert Schwank in the Haid Passage as an example of how carnival can be kept alive outside of the internet.

Schwank had already designed and designed the three large, well-known tower figures - now he has also designed figures for the other eight towers in Mindelheim.

The works of art from the prison tower, from the church tower of the parish church of St. Stephan and from the Westernacher Tor can be seen in the Haid-Passage until Ash Wednesday.

"We are very happy about these works of art and hope that so many residents and visitors of Mindelheim will share this joy with us," wrote the Duraaufa Mindlhoim recently.

Without parades and parties: what carnival clubs in the Lower Allgäu are planning on Gumpigen Thursday

View photo gallery

What is also on the way this year, in addition to parades and balls, are the popular guard appearances in retirement homes.

"The grandmothers and grandfathers are looking forward to the appearance of the Minigarde at the senior carnival and the fact that old and young are together.

Especially the people who are no longer so mobile want to see that – you can see that in their bright eyes. ”Many residents do not understand that Corona alone is the reason why the children no longer come by in the fifth season.

The fact that carnival should definitely be celebrated "cross-generationally" is even stated in an official ethics charter of the "German Carnival Association".

Parts of the pamphlet go back to the 12th century and since then have documented important basic positions on how customs and traditions should be lived and maintained during the foolish time.

"Between 11.11.

and Ash Wednesday isn't about wild parties, it's about bringing people closer to cheerfulness," Christoph Spies also makes clear in this context.

This also applies to Gumpigen Thursday and the remaining days until Ash Wednesday.

Christoph Spies also appeals to reason and is confident that the Unterallgäu fools would have understood the Corona situation - and are now trying to make the best of the situation.

“Performing with the guard or the guild in a crowd is of course difficult this year.

We all hope that there will be more action again in 2022/23,” concluded the BSF President.