The Fasnachtler are the most important part of Baseler Morgenstreich - the amazing starting procession of Basel's Fasnacht celebrations.
At exactly 4am on Monday morning, Fasnachtler parade their lanterns through Basel central old town and through the squares of Barfusserplatz and Marktplatz to the tunes of piccolos. Not only are the costumes a sight to behold, but the lanterns are something else - lampooning the major political events of the preceding year from local problems with the trams to Switzerland's diplomatic tussle with Libya.
The Basler Fasnacht is one of the most important of Swiss festivals and the Morgenstreich one of the most important parts of that.
