Last week, the Four Forest Luzern community came together to celebrate Fasnacht, a joyful tradition deeply rooted in Lucerne’s cultural history. Dating back to the Middle Ages, Lucerne Fasnacht has long marked the period before Lent through music, masks, and public gatherings.

For students at Four Forest Luzern, Fasnacht offered an opportunity to connect with this living tradition and experience how history continues to shape community life today. As Vanessa explains, “At Four Forest, Fasnacht is a joyful tradition that brings our community together through celebration, creativity, and shared cultural experience.”

Children took an active role in shaping the day. Classes created their own workshops, which formed the heart of the celebration. Through dressing up, music, movement, and collaborative activities, students worked together, shared ideas, and enjoyed collective experiences where play and creativity were central.

Learning, Language, and Cultural Understanding

Fasnacht also supported language learning and cultural understanding. Songs, stories, and shared vocabulary linked to the celebration created rich opportunities for language development. Students learned about the historical background of Lucerne Fasnacht and its original meaning as a way to symbolically drive away winter through noise, masks, and music. Vanessa notes that “understanding this historical meaning helps students see how people in the past responded to nature, seasons, and community life.”

The celebration was planned as a whole-school event across Four Forest Luzern and LMS. Students opened and closed Fasnacht together, reinforcing a strong sense of shared community. During the event, students moved freely within their school building, visiting age-appropriate workshops in small groups within a set time frame. Each atelier was supervised by a teacher, ensuring guidance, structure, and safety. A break atelier also gave students space to rest, eat, and recharge when needed.

The day concluded with a small parade around the Rotseewiese. Participation was optional, allowing classes to join in a way that felt right for them.

Belonging, Expression, and Community

Throughout the celebration, moments of shared music, laughter, colourful costumes, and students proudly presenting their creations captured the spirit of Fasnacht. Particularly meaningful were moments when children recognised traditional elements such as masks or Guggenmusik and experienced them in a playful way.

Fasnacht strengthened a sense of belonging within the Four Forest Luzern community. As Vanessa reflects, “By celebrating a tradition that has been part of Lucerne’s history for centuries, students, teachers, and staff come together to take part in something rooted in the local community.”

Events like Fasnacht play an important role in the wider life of Four Forest Luzern. The school welcomes students from all over the world, where different traditions, values, and perspectives meet every day. Experiencing Fasnacht allows students to engage with Swiss culture in a meaningful way, promoting cultural understanding, respect for diversity, and a sense of connection across backgrounds.