What is the name of the Basel carnival period?

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What is the name of the Basel carnival period? Basler Fasnacht.

Basler Fasnacht is the traditional carnival of Basel, Switzerland. The German name literally identifies the city’s distinctive Fasnacht, and the event is also known locally as “the three most beautiful days.” It begins at exactly 4 a.m. on the Monday after Ash Wednesday with Morgestraich and lasts precisely 72 hours.

During Morgestraich, the city centre goes dark while masked groups called Cliques parade with illuminated lanterns, fifes and drums. The carnival is known for its satirical treatment of current political and social issues, expressed through costumes, lantern designs and written verses.

Basler Fasnacht differs from the better-known Rhine carnivals of Cologne, Mainz and Düsseldorf. Basel maintains a strong separation between active participants and spectators, and its date follows the older “farmers’ carnival” calendar rather than the standard pre-Lenten schedule. The tradition was added to UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list in 2017.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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