Al look at the tradition of Fasiangy, the pre-Lenten celebration and feasting days in Slovakia.
Fasiangy, literally meaning "carnival," is the Slovak word for Shrovetide or the French equivalent "Mardi Gras."
As in other parts of Europe, Fasiangy evolved during Middle Ages and became a mad celebration of relentless costumed parades, singing, and dancing. This emotional release of pent up energy prepared people for the forty days of fasting which began on Ash Wednesday.
The word "carnival" itself traces its origins from the Latin phrase carnem levare, meaning "abstention," a reference to the Medieval Lenten fast from all animal products. The Slovak fasiangy derives from the German der Faschung. Some experts believe that the German word comes from the ancient Germanic word Vasen (running around crazily).
Fasiangy celebrations in Slovakia lasted from the Sunday before Lent until Tuesday night at midnight, but sometimes they extended well into Ash Wednesday morning. Frequently a wedding initiated the festivities and musicians played from after lunch until the next morning.
Consuming huge amounts of food and hard drink were very much part of fasiangy customs. Tables were filled with whiskey, brandy, wine, and beer. In previous centuries, Slovaks also imbibed the much loved medovina, an alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey. In their homes, women baked meat (if available), bravcova huspenina (a pork jelly), fried sisky (filled pastries) or pampuchy (a kind of potato fritter). Many also placed baked goods on graves of their deceased relatives and beloved.
Fasiangy was a major theatrical event in Slovak villages and towns. Typically a happy group of costumed and masked youths strutted from house to house playing music. They dressed up as outrageous characters, such as a slamenik (strawman), bakus (Bacchus the Roman god), kurina baba (an old lady), a koza (goat), a medved' (bear) and especially turon (an ox or some other type of cattle). The turon was formed when a young man would hoist a companion on his shoulders, cover themselves with a large sheet or blanket, and place a sewn head of an ox or bull with bells on the head of the guy on top. The masked marauders would saunter around the village and made their rounds their rounds from house to house.
As a sign of their passing, these oxen men would throw some manure along the way, in order to leave a sign of their passing. The team leader would also strike up some hearty and jovial folk songs. When they went into someone’s home, they carried with them a vessel of cow dung, which they claimed was cattle blood. This was not meant to be an insult, rather Slovaks interpreted it as fortuitous, for this was a sign they would enjoy the fruits of dung - a bountiful and fruitful harvest.
The spirited youths specifically addressed songs to the unmarried young maidens of the household. The people would offer the entertaining visitors some slanina (smoked bacon) and other treats that were prohibited during Lent. Some of the young men dressed in drag as women and parodied and mimicked members of other ranks in society. For example, they might wear an animal skin, or some of them would dress like a zobrak (beggar) in torn up pants, shirt, and stuff themselves with straw. The dressed up youths would frolic about clumsily, stagger, slide, and fall on the ground in front of the onlookers. The goofiest and most humorous character of group was often named Kubo or Stary.
The young merrymakers also might each be equipped with a branch, a basket, and one in the group would be sure to play a harmonika (accordion). They would sing ludicrous songs and shout out humorous sayings and speeches. At the various homes they visited, they would collect eggs, bacon, and a few coins. In some villages, a home or the local krcme (taverns) would roast a pig and have a live band, which would be paid for with the money and goodies which the youths had collected.
Women also participated in the festivities. They would visit several homes, usually where some priadky (spinning) was taking place for this was a chance for the ladies to socialize. There they would drink "na vysoky l'an," i.e., literally, for tall flax. In order to ensure that there was plenty of long flax, the women would pull the hair of the lady whose was longest. Then they would jump up from their benches and do a special dance.
Women and men also used fasiangy to apply some social pressure to the unmarried maidens. They joked about those girls who had not yet found a husband, especially the older girls. For instance, the ladies might sing a song that this girl thought she was too good for any of the eligible bachelors. Thus fasiangy reinforced the strong belief in marriage as a necessary and desired institution which all should aspire to.
Fasiangy was a time of fun and nonsense, but it served a purpose as townsfolk could their have fun and enjoy themselves before the Lenten fast. This tradition continues to this day in ceremonies sponsored by the Matica Slovenska (the Slovak Cultural Society) in many villages and some cities such as the capital of Bratislava, which stages a full-fledged parade. In 2007, the Slovak Village Museum (Muzeum slovenskej dediny) near Martin in central Slovakia is staging a traditional fasiangy village celebration.
