We continue to analyze Danish folk festivals and traditions, and this time we refer to fastelavn, a celebration that dates back to the years before the Reformation of 1536 (when Denmark adopted Protestantism as its official religion).
It takes place in February, and symbolizes the beginning of Lent, the physical and spiritual preparation for Holy Week. In southern European countries we can make an equivalence with the carnival festivities (which comes from the Italian, carnevale, and means "to remove the meat").
During the Fastelavn, Danish food was reduced to fish, rye bread and various vegetables, seeking to purify the body.
On the Monday and Tuesday of Fastelavn, before the Ash Wednesday that begins Holy Week, some could afford to eat wheat bread, meat dumplings and some sweets, but after the Reformation, Lent was abolished.
Anyway, the Fastelavn continues to celebrate, although today it only lasts one day. There are some legends about the beginning of this festival, but we will analyze them in depth in our next entry. But those who travel to Denmark in February, know how to prepare for the Fastelavn celebration.