Fastelavn (Danish Carnival)
The traditional Nordic spring carnival features children in costumes, breaking a candy-filled wooden barrel ("hitting the cat out of the barrel"), and eating seasonal cream buns.
About this event
Fastelavn is the Scandinavian version of Carnival, traditionally marking the threshold before the Christian period of Lent. Historically, a real black cat—symbolizing evil and bad luck—was placed inside a wooden barrel and beaten to banish evil spirits. Today, the cat has been replaced with wooden barrels filled with candy, oranges, and toys. Children dress up in colorful costumes and take turns hitting the barrel with wooden bats until it breaks open. The child who knocks down the last piece of the barrel is crowned the "Cat Queen" (Kattedronning), while the one who knocks down the bottom board becomes the "Cat King" (Kattekonge). Bakeries across Denmark showcase elaborate "Fastelavnsboller" (sweet cardamom buns filled with whipped cream, custard, and jam) throughout February.
Event Details
Date
Sunday, 14 February 2027
→ 14 February 2027
Location
Celebrated nationwide across Denmark in local town squares, schools, and cultural institutions (e.g., National Museum of Denmark, Ny Vestergade 10, 1471 Copenhagen, Denmark).