Fastelavn
March 2, Sunday
Date of Celebration
The festival does not have a fixed date and is celebrated depending on the start of Lent. It usually falls in February or early March.
Traditions and Customs
Fastelavn is a time of popular festivities, costumes, and traditional sweets.
- Children dress up in costumes and go from house to house asking for sweets, similar to Halloween.
- One of the most important traditions is "beating the barrel" (slå katten af tønden), where children take turns hitting a suspended barrel with sticks. In the past, a live cat was placed inside (symbolizing the expulsion of evil), but today the barrel is filled with sweets and toys. The child who delivers the final blow and breaks the barrel is crowned the "Cat King" (kattekonge).
- In Norway and Denmark, sweet buns called Fastelavnsboller, filled with cream or jam, are prepared.
- In Iceland, a special tradition called Blásedagur – the "Blowing Day" – involves children playfully hitting adults on the back with inflated bags.
Modern Celebrations
Today, Fastelavn remains an important part of Scandinavian culture. Schools and kindergartens organize themed events, and costume parades and competitions are held in the streets. Many families celebrate the day with traditional songs and sweet treats.
Fastelavn is a joyful and fun-filled celebration that welcomes the arrival of spring and is enjoyed by both children and adults.
Fastelavn in other years
- 2022 February 27, Sunday
- 2023 February 19, Sunday
- 2024 February 11, Sunday
- 2026 February 15, Sunday