Burning down the Funken with an acoustic firework show afterward on Sunday, 26th of february 2012

Alte Fasnat (Old Carnival) - Costumes once and now

The Funken Sunday - once called Alte Fasnat - is the Sunday after Shrove Tuesday; 26th of February 2012. This Sunday used to be a day of rejoicing for young and old alike. It was the day or the evening on which a torch procession took place, the Funken was burned down and the delicious Funka-Küachle (small cakes) could be eaten. Afterwards, shortly before midnight, the band invited the dancers to dance the last three dances because after midnight the carnival was finally over and no more dancing was allowed until Easter.

In the past there used to be several Funken put up and burned down on nearly every hamlet. Today the Funken is skillfully build by the Funken guild of Vandans. Their Funken maybe isn't the biggest one, but it's the only original Montafon Funken. It's made of one-metre long pieces of wood, no nails are used and it's build crosswise around a fir tree which is 15 to 20-metres long.

Other Funken however only partially consist of wood, because boards are nailed to the outside while on the inside they are filled with cardboards, straw etc. On top of the tree there is a Funken witch. It's filled with gunpowder and it's the highlight of the festival when it explodes with a big bang. Burning down the Funken on the one hand leads to the thaw and on the other hand, according to old traditions, burning down the witch drives out the evil. In Vandans the Funken is already build on the previous day (on Saturday) above the church and it's closely guarded all night long so nobody is able to burn it down just for fun before the actual event.

On Saturday from 4.30 p. m. the Funkenblättle (Funken newspaper), issued by the Funken guild, is sold from door to door. In the newspaper last year's village events are commented on in a funny way.

On Sunday at 7 p. m. the Funken is burned down during a ceremony accpomanied by the music of the Vandans Harmoniemusik and ironic carnival speeches of the Funken chancellor. Children with torches are also part of this nice traditional event.

Highlight: Acoustic Fireworks Show Finally, after burning down the Funken, a beautiful fireworks show will lighten up the sky over the Funken place. This year, as every year, the fireworks show will be accompanied by impressive sounds.