Fasching Dienstag!!

Today was a very special day here in Austria, because it is a holiday known as Fasching. This is a big celebration right before Ash Wednesday. The idea seems to be to go as crazy as possible before Lent begins and the Catholics have to start fasting. I woke up early and went to buy cigarettes, and the woman at the Tabak was dressed up as a baby with a huge pacifier. The secretaries at school were dressed as witches and cowgirls. School ended two hours early, and there was a teacher party at a Buschenschank in St. Georgen. On the way there, there was a road block operated by what appeared to be the Austrian army. But, once we got to it, we realized it wasn't the army at all... but rather a group of young men in army garb stopping traffic. The best part: You couldn't go any further unless you drank a shot of liquor! On the way back I had Alexa drive through it again, and then we went to the roundabout, turned around, and came back for another round. It was very very funny, and the young men said "You can take the whole bottle if you like!" and I'm pretty sure they were serious. Roundabouts are a very effective device sometimes! Afterwards we went into the city where there was a band playing and the the whole pedestrian zone was full of drunken people in costume. Some historical context to the holiday: Back in the times of the monarchy, people loved Fasching because when everyone was dressed up in masks the social hierarchy pretty much disappeared and you could mingle with everyone and be crazy regardless of your class. Who needs Halloween?