Holy Family Catholic Church celebrates Fasching/Mardi Gras

By PAMELA GRANT
Cove Leader-Press

Copperas Cove brought a taste of Germany to the city this weekend with a special Fasching celebration at the Holy Family Catholic Church.
Bettina Blackburn organized a Fasching/Mardi Gras celebration which included a costume contest, prizes, music, dancing, food, and fun. The festivities began at 7 p.m. and ran until 11 p.m. Prizes for the costume contest were donated by Raising Cane’s, Starbucks, and Cinergy Cinemas. The event was a BYOB, but they did offer plenty of non-alcoholic alternatives at the event. For dinner, they served bratwurst, homemade potato salad, rolls, desserts, and a lot more
“I’m German, and I love Fasching…I love it. I love dressing up, having fun, and the party music, and I’d missed it since living here,” said Blackburn about why she started hosting the Fasching celebration nine years ago. “It’s also a nice way to bring in some German tradition.”
Blackburn said that there are a lot of Germans in the area who love the event and come dressed up each year. Blackburn says that, whenever she can, she helps host the Fasching celebration. She plans to hold one again next year.
Fasching is an event very similar to Mardi Gras said Blackburn. Both are held prior to Lent. Different areas have different ways of celebrating, but Fasching is considered to be a time of festivity and merry making. It’s considered a time to break the rules and poke fun at those who make them.
Blackburn said that while she wanted to make sure to include some traditional Fasching music, she also wanted to include a lot of American music and activities so that everyone who attended could feel included.
“Anything German, I’m happy to be there,” said Deacon Fred Jones as he enjoyed his meal. Jones said that he lived in Germany for 19 years and loved that he still gets to celebrate Fasching each year. 
After their dinner, the dancing started in earnest. Dozens danced their way around the church’s social hall, having a great time celebrating.
“It brings back memories from when we were in Germany,” said Maria Huggins who attended the event for the first time this year. Huggins attended the event with her husband who was stationed in Germany in 1981 where the two spent three years. “It was a lot more rowdy back then. But then, we were more rowdy back then—younger too,” joked Huggins.