another question about catholism...

Austria where I live now is a very catholic country. Before I moved here I never really cared about all the religious stuff, and the bible. I am not religious at all...

Anyway, today a question came to my mind when some friends of mine were talking about the Karneval (Fasching). Now as far as I know, Fasching used to be regarded evil by religious people...it's an atheist tradition i always thought. But here's the weird thing: Austria has a big Fasching in one of the most catholic regions and somehow that's contradictory for me. Why does a catholic country like austria celebrate the Fasching if its against their belief?

Carnival is not against catholicism. In fact, carnival is a "catholic thing", protestants do not celebrate it. For catholics carnival is a chance to party before the "cuaresma" (I dont know the english word), and that's the 40 days of easter that you are suposed to be respectful and doin sacrifices for yourself (i.e. stop drinking or smoking).
I am Catholic but I dont often do this, but also I'm not really in the carnival thing. I don't like wearing costums... je je

I hope it answers your question!!

CHino

Cuaresma would be Lent, I guess..

ehm Fasching is like Carneval some hidnic ritual I think.
We`re not VERY CATHOLIC. Maybe the city where you live, but I lived in 3 citys since I was born, and well except a girl I knew in primary scool I don't anyone who really cares about religion.
Here in LInz fasching isn't very popular, it`s just a reason to eat lot`s of Krapfen and drink far too much, and well if you want to , wear really strange clothes

Like Chino said, Carnival does have to do with the Catholic religion. That's why you have "Fat Tuesday" during Mardis Gras. It's the last chance to "let go" before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. One of the traditions of Lent is to give up something for those 40 days. Like deciding you're going to stop eating chocolate for that time. It can be anything that you enjoy, you have to give it up. It's to symbolize the sacrifice that God and Jesus Christ made for us. So you have that Carnival time before Lent begins. I hope that made sense. It's late and I'm tired.

but the tradition of carnival existed before catholism came to austria...and back then it was a hidnic tradition to me it seems like the catholics have just adopted the tradition for some reason...

sorry, i meant compared to eastern germany (where i am from), austria is very catholic. just look at the amount of churches

lol hey we have to pay church tex they got to use it for something and after all have you ever been in one of them on Sunday? sometimes there are about 2 people with the preacher

Originally Fasching was a heathen custom to get rid off the winter. The catholics "adopted" it somehow as the last days before Lent. You know that the Lent starts at "Aschermittwoch" and goes until Easter. At Fasching you can eat and drink as much as you want before the 7 weeks Lent starts (Fastenzeit). The protestants don't have a lent.

Jana, they aren't just very much catholic in your eyes, also for us Northern Germans. The farer you come to the south, the more catholic people are there. It already starts in parts of Hessen and of course in Bavaria.

Thanks for explaining that to me Chris

I get confused sometimes LOL And I am glad I'm not the only one who regards Austria as very catholic