it is that german or central-european custom closely related to a religious ritual of fasting before easter: the time leading up to the fasting was traditional the time to drive out evil spirits. and that was done by dressing up in costumes - mostly rather scary, in the old days - and really really hitting the EAT and DRINK buttons hard, kinda "stocking up" before the time of abstinence...
so, here is our own personal edition of all this: give it up, everybody, for mouse benGee, ladybug vicky and tiger collin! meet the costumes crew 2014!
we even remembered to get the costumes in time. well, WHO remembered? and who EXACTLY? ok, it was grandma. so, thanx, grandma! :)
but everyone had their fun, even mama making up the faces... still, looks like february/march will be an exceiting time for years to come, not to say a busy one... watch out, here we come! helau!