I need to travel to Helvetia, West Virginia, sometime if I ever get transportation. Seems that they have a large Swiss population there, and about this time of year, they have Fasnacht. A time of revelry and dragging out Ol’ Man Winter and burning him to help the Winter end. I found a very interesting article on it, and thought I’d share here!
Helvetia, West Virginia: Where Swiss tradition and Appalachian spirit defy time
Enjoy! And let’s all get together and burn a bit of paper with a stick figure of Ol’ Man Winter soon. Can’t hurt, and if it stops snow like what we’re about to have, I’m all for it!
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That looks amazing! I haven’t heard of Fasnacht before, but it reminds a little of a Polish winter/spring tradition - although they drown an effigy of Marzanna, a Slavic goddess of winter instead.
Very cool to read about! I hope you’re able to make it to a Fasnacht celebration someday 
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I figured it would be Holda, but yeah, it makes sense! Glad you like the article! Hopefully, I will get there some day!
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Just in case anyone was interested, they held Fasnacht this weekend. It was the biggest festival yet, with over 3000 people flooding the small town that usually only holds 60!
‘Biggest year yet’: Thousands scare away winter at Helvetia’s 59th Fasnacht festival
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I missed this post before! What a fabulous idea - I’m down with this 100%! Kick out Old Man Winter and have a feast - it’s genius.
I do feel for the local residents having to host such a crowd. I’m sure it was a major effort.
Looking at the menu, hmmm…yep, I’ll have the Zurich Sauerbraten Dinner and Peach Cobbler for dessert. 
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I bet they appreciate the tourist money for the rest of the year! It looks like so much fun, and yeah, the menu looks amazing!
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