Rathaussturm in Waldfischbach: Fools take over the power!

On January 8, 2025, a spectacular handover of power took place at the town hall storm of the Waldfischbach Carnival Association. Despite adverse weather conditions, a large crowd of fools, which also received support from Pirmasens, made their way to the town hall. Princess Emily I had already made preparations to move the local mayor Michael Oestreicher to hand over power, which had entrenched himself in his office.

The fools used timpani, trumpets, firecrackers, rockets and smoke grenades, but had to fight with ignition problems. With a loud shouting, Emily I called the handover of the keys with the Rhenish reputation "Esche Make uff!". Ultimately, Oestreicher gave in and not only handed over the key, but also the municipal treasury and power. However, the local mayor made it clear that he returned the cash register on Ash Wednesday, ideally with content.

carnival tradition

The first event under the reign of Emily I is the splendor meeting, which will take place on January 11th at 7:11 p.m. The local mayor must work there and contribute to the program because he was left behind with an almost empty cash register. In addition, Emily I made other requirements for her subjects, including the drinks bar and the supply of Lyoner and Maggi.

Another highlight of the carnival season in the Waldfischbach is the women's meeting, which will take place in the community center on February 21. Two days later, on February 23, the youngest are invited to children's masked ball. On February 23, Bundestag and District Administrative elections are on the program for the adults. The handover of power by the fools until Ash Wednesday is a political tradition that is deeply rooted in the Rhenish culture.

The Carnival Association Waldfischbach also presents a political order this year that addresses the re -election of Michael Oestreicher and its exit from the BWB. The order emphasizes that Oestreicher is popular and known without a faction.

In Germany, carnival, carnival and Fastnacht are important traditions that are known as the "fifth season". In 2014, the Rheinische Carnival and the Swabian-Alemannic Fastnacht were included in the list of intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO, as explained on the ÖDP website. These festivities are part of the Christian tradition and serve as a festive conclusion before the 40-day Lent, whereby different regional customs make the carnival varied.

A particularly important aspect of the carnival is its political dimension. With humorous lectures and parodies for current events, the performances hit the pulse of time and often act as a valve in political tensions. The traditional role of the fools is used not only for entertainment, but also for socially critical reflection.