Learn more about Fasnacht by CLICKING HERE.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - New Orleans has Mardi Gras. Deep in the mountains of West Virginia, the descendants of Swiss and German immigrants have Fasnacht (FOSS-knocked).
It's smaller by thousands and colder by 40 degrees, but it's also a last hurrah before Lent.
On Saturday, hundreds will trek to the small town of Helvetia.
They'll don papier-mâché masks for a candlelight parade. They'll dine on sausage, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese, and dance to Appalachian music at a masked ball.
At midnight, they'll toss Old Man Winter's effigy into a bonfire to chase away winter.
Longtime resident Debbie Sayre says it often backfires: It's not unusual for it be 50 degrees Saturday then snow Sunday.
This weekend's forecast calls for rain and snow Friday night, but colder, drier conditions Saturday.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
