Editing Mardi Gras (section)

===Germany===
{{main|Carnival in Germany, Switzerland and Austria|l1=Karneval, Fasching|Swabian–Alemannic Fastnacht|l2=Fastnacht}}
The celebration on the same day in [[Germany]] knows many different terms, depending on the region, such as [[Swabian–Alemannic Fastnacht|Fastnacht]], meaning the eve of the fast that takes place during Lent, or Veilchensdienstag (Violet Tuesday), as it is called in the Lower Rhine region. The celebrations often stretch from Epiphany, known in sections of Germany as Heilige Drei Könige, through the night before Ash Wednesday, and is variously known by different names, such as [[Carnival in Germany, Switzerland and Austria|Karneval]] or [[Fasching]] in Germany, Austria and German-speaking areas of Switzerland.  It is also often referred to as the "fifth season", which traditionally begins with Hoppeditz Erwachen (the waking of Hoppeditz, the Fool who embodies the Karneval season) on 11 November at 11:11 AM (11/11 11:11).{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} and ends with his comic funeral mass on Fastnacht.

Karneval is filled with large banquets held by the various organizing societies and generally comes to a climax beginning on what is variously known as ''Schmutziger Donnerstag'' or ''Fetter Donnerstag'' ([[Fat Thursday]]), ''Unsinniger Donnerstag'' (Nonsense Thursday), ''Altweiberfastnacht'', ''Greesentag'' and others. In [[standard German]], ''schmutzig'' means "dirty", but in the Alemannic dialects ''schmotzig'' means "lard" ([[Schmalz]]), or "fat";<ref name=Schmotzig>{{cite news |url=http://www.rontaler.ch/20330/woher-hat-der-schmutzige-donnerstag-seinen-namen |title=Woher hat der Schmutzige Donnerstag seinen Namen? |newspaper=Regionalzeitung Rontaler AG |date=17 February 2013 |language=de |access-date=7 February 2015}}</ref> thus "Greasy Thursday", as remaining winter stores of lard and butter used to be consumed at that time, before the fasting began.  Altweiberfastnacht often featured women wearing men's clothing and assuming their roles.   In many towns across the state of North Rhine Westphalia, a ritual "takeover" of the town halls by local women has become tradition.