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The grubs, costumes and lanterns were ready, the marches practiced and the anticipation great. Then came the sad certainty for carnival fans. The Basel Carnival is canceled just a few days before the Morgestraich, as the Federal Council has banned large events in Switzerland.
Some took hours or even days to realize the effects of this decision. A year without a carnival was the last time the Spanish flu raged in Basel 100 years ago. The chances of the next carnival being held regularly from February 22 to 25, 2021 seem unimaginable in the current situation. Events with more than 1000 people are still banned today, only active carnival people normally number around 12,000 people.
The carnival was not canceled, on the contrary.
“From today’s perspective, it would of course be irresponsible to celebrate carnival in the same way that we did in 2019 and plan for 2020,” the Basel Carnival Committee announced last night. However, every effort is made to celebrate carnival next year. In what form and under what security standards are they still open, a corresponding concept must be developed.
Talks are already planned with the Basel government and cooperation with the authorities is being sought. The safety and protection of the population have “top priority”. It is important that activities do not pose a health risk.
However, it is not yet clear what kind of activities these are in concrete terms. A nine-hour Cortège around the city is currently highly unlikely. On Monday night the presidents and women of the carnival cliques were invited to a meeting. At the scene, the committee reported on a possible implementation of the carnival. The Committee now acts as a kind of organizing committee which, according to its own statements, is also happy to receive creative suggestions from carnival enthusiasts and see if they can be implemented.
The committee is democratic
The committee had already addressed the first ideas at the presidential conference. For example, it is conceivable to extend the Morgestraich for three carnival days and move it from the city center to individual neighborhoods. Guggen could play Ständeli and open concerts in front of homes for the elderly and the elderly, is another conceivable proposal from the Carnival Committee. Or a lantern display in the showrooms, as well as on-the-go catering from the local pub and waggis.
Schnitzel benches can appear in stripping areas that have a suitable protection concept or in outdoor settings.
Many smaller activities
So it looks like there will be many individual carnival activities “that can take place in a safe environment” in Basel next year instead of one big event. However, there are no concrete plans or even a concept at the moment.
On the other hand, the carnival badge, which should not be missing in the unconventional carnival, brings something normal. “The 2021 badge has already been put into production,” the committee says. And you are on the regular schedule. The carnival motto and associated plaque are placed at the end of the summer holidays and the plaque is commissioned in September. The unveiling is expected to take place in December before the plate goes on sale in January.
