Fastelavn

Fastelavn is a Danish traditional celebration, and is sometimes compared to the American Halloween, because many children dress up and eat candy. It's celebrated the Sunday or Monday before Ash Wednesday, and can be associated with lent, but it doesn't have very much religious significance. The traditional events include slå katten af tønden ("hit the cat out of the barrel"). I attended one of these events with my family! It was unique but I was glad to be a part of this great Danish tradition. This is what happened: A crowd was gathered on the sides of the streets around a barrel hung up between two Danish flag poles. We waited until a group of maybe 10 uniformed people on horses trotted in. Apparently they were drunk, my host mom told me. They then proceeded to trot through the street, increasing speed as they got closer to the barrel, and then with their sticks they smack the barrel. Each person on horseback does this, and they continue this back and fourth until the barrel is smashed to pieces. The one who gets the last piece to the ground is the winner and they get a wreath. Back in the old days they would put a black cat in the barrel, because black cats were believed to be evil. Today the barrel is empty. When the barrel is down everyone cheers and then we go home and eat a feast! 

The decorated barrel.

They ride in...

Smacking the barrel!

The winner.