Everyone would probably call me stupid for uploading this ugly picture, but it does have an interesting story you might like to hear:
As you probably know, I'm from Germany. And maybe you have heard of Carnival (called Fasching here)?
If not, here's something from Wikipedia: "Carnival (often spelled Carnaval) is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life."
Here in Germany this is celebrated really much. The peak of those celebrations is on so-called "Rose Monday" which will this year be on the 3rd March.
The Thursday before Rose Monday there traditionally is a feast called "Weiberfastnacht". It's an old tradition that women are allowed to cut of the mens' ties that day.
Since in normal high schools people usually don't wear ties this tradition has been modified over the years, and now it says that the girls are allowed to "paint" the men's faces that day.
Of course, the men did not like that and that's why now the boys are allowed to paint the girls on Friday, too. (as "revenge")
Yesterday, we didn't really do much. There were maybe five boys from our class who had a symbol in their face, that's all.
But the boys did more. A lot more. They brought bottles of hairspray (you can't see it since it's a B&W, but parts of my hair are blue or green now) and also painted in our faces. Actually, I'm the only girl who got that much in her face. And the boys uses WATERPROOF!! markers! It will take hours to take it off :(
It looks so stupid that even my German teacher (and of course my friends) made fun of me :D
Sorry for the long text but I felt like explaining this tradition :p
That's a great photo, Jule! Your explanation was excellent. Waterproof markers... I'm still laughing at that one. (Sounds like boys are boys all over the world. I'm SURE American boys would have done the same thing.)
Interestingly, I was in Guatemala several years ago during Carnival. The timing was coincidental, not planned. I was walking through a small village and taking photos while the teens were having their fun. In Guatemala that consisted of taking eggs, breaking a small hole into them, and pouring flour into the egg. I'm told the kids would spend days preparing several dozen eggs. On Carnival they would take the eggs out into the streets and it would be a boy versus girl war out there. You'd see kids covered with egg and flour. Fortunately, they didn't target tourists and I didn't get hit with any "friendly fire!" lol
I think it's a cool picture Jules and you have gorgeous eyes. It was reall interesting to hear about your traditions too. Glad you went for B & W it may have been frightening in glorious colour. x
Nice photo. You look anything but ugly and you're a good sport for letting them get anywhere near you with waterproof markers. Just remember, boys are never "too old" for something stupid. That's why we need women, so they can grab us and say, "Um, no."
@leananiemand Yeah, it is :D Thanks :) @kannafoot Thank you. Oh god, I guess they would. The American girls can feel lucky that they don't have this tradition. But it's fun :D The stuff teens do in Guatemala sounds actually cool too :D Btw your postcard arrived today. It's perfect. I'm sure Grandma will love it! Thank you :) @barneyone Most of the markers are dark blue or black.. but that won't make getting them off easier... o.o Thank you, though :) x @jasonayer Thank you so much Jason. Great explanation too :D @maddie_maddie Thanks Maddie, means a lot :)
@justaspark LOL du Arme. Das gab es zu meiner Schulzeit noch nicht. Allerdings sind wir ja schon wieder Niedersachsen hier und wir feiern Karneval so gut wie überhaupt nicht. Also alles ganz zivilisiert und normal. Aber bis Mittwoch brauchen wir auf der Arbeit nicht mit Lieferanten aus NRW oder ähnlichen Bundesländern zu rechnen .... alle weg, alle am Feiern ;) Super Foto und ich hoffe du kriegst das Zeug wieder ausm Gesicht ;)
@annika82 Haha ok :D Wohne ja auch fast in Niedersachsen, wir feiern auch nicht so stark, das ist ja eher so das Rheingebiet :)
Aaber wir haben Montag frei (wegen Lehrerfortbildung, die aber absichtlich so gelegt wurde), was mir ganz gut passt, weil ich Geburtstag hab :D
Ja, dass kenne ich auch noch von früher... ich fands immer etwas doof, aber ich find Karneval eh doof! :D Aaaber: Super selfie, so ein richtiger "Diary-shot"! :D
@justaspark is schon klar, eher so Köln und Düsseldorf aber hätte ja sein können dass das schon in NRW anders gesehen wird. Hier ist echt so absolut NICHTS :D und das ist auch ok so ;) aber kann mir schon vorstellen das es mal so richtig Bock macht abzuspacken ;)
@annika82 Also hier gibt es 2 größere Karnevalsgesellschaften. Die machen halt immer so öffentliche Feiern. Ansonsten haben wir im Kindergarten und in der Grundschule da immer gefeiert :p und vor paar Jahren hab ich mit paar Freundinnen privat gefeiert. Ist eigentlich ganz witzig, aber auch unnötig :D
@agentzuckerguss Ich hab die anderen jahre auch nie mitgemacht, aber was soll's :D
Karneval finde ich eigentlich ok. Muss man als "Rosenmontagskind" (3.3. geboren :D) aber wohl auch. Meine Oma singt mir immer dieses komische Volkslied "Am Rosenmontag bin ich geboren" oder so vor :D
Und danke :)
Oh my god that sounds like so much fun! But come on, waterproof markers, that's so not fair haha! Aww, well, at least you had fun! Lovely photo and your really pretty :) x
Interestingly, I was in Guatemala several years ago during Carnival. The timing was coincidental, not planned. I was walking through a small village and taking photos while the teens were having their fun. In Guatemala that consisted of taking eggs, breaking a small hole into them, and pouring flour into the egg. I'm told the kids would spend days preparing several dozen eggs. On Carnival they would take the eggs out into the streets and it would be a boy versus girl war out there. You'd see kids covered with egg and flour. Fortunately, they didn't target tourists and I didn't get hit with any "friendly fire!" lol
@kannafoot Thank you. Oh god, I guess they would. The American girls can feel lucky that they don't have this tradition. But it's fun :D The stuff teens do in Guatemala sounds actually cool too :D Btw your postcard arrived today. It's perfect. I'm sure Grandma will love it! Thank you :)
@barneyone Most of the markers are dark blue or black.. but that won't make getting them off easier... o.o Thank you, though :) x
@jasonayer Thank you so much Jason. Great explanation too :D
@maddie_maddie Thanks Maddie, means a lot :)
Aaber wir haben Montag frei (wegen Lehrerfortbildung, die aber absichtlich so gelegt wurde), was mir ganz gut passt, weil ich Geburtstag hab :D
Karneval finde ich eigentlich ok. Muss man als "Rosenmontagskind" (3.3. geboren :D) aber wohl auch. Meine Oma singt mir immer dieses komische Volkslied "Am Rosenmontag bin ich geboren" oder so vor :D
Und danke :)
@lilminimonka Haha it was! That's the boys haha! :D Thank you :)
I look a bit older normally (see e.g. http://365project.org/justaspark/365/2014-02-03) but thank you a lot :)