There's no doubt about the importance of the lantern to Basler Fasnacht. An integral part of the Morgenstraich procession in the wee-hours of Monday morning, the Lanterns are also on display on the parades on the Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
The notoriously dry humour of the Baslers leaves no subject untouched from national leaders to the macabre to Harry Potter.
Don't take any of it too seriously - that's your problem not the Baslers - but do take a close look at some of the work which has gone into making many of the lanterns. It's most impressive.
Basel Fasnacht - display of Fasnacht lanterns - Lanterns of Basler Fasnacht being displayed in Münsterplatz
Basel - great things to do - 8 of the best things to do in and around the city of Basel
Switzerland - sacred destinations - Nine of the finest churchs, cathedrals and monastries in Switzerland
Basel Fasnacht - lanterns at Münsterplatz - Lanterns displayed in front of the Basler Münster on the second day of Basler Fasnacht
Basel - Van Gogh exhibition 2009 - A visit the Van Gogh Exhibition at the Kunstmuseum in Basel
Basel SBB - Deutsche Bahn train - A Deutsche Bahn train sits at the Basel SBB train station
Switzerland - festivals not to miss - Fantastic Swiss festivals to visit through the year
Liestal - Chienbaese 2013 - The Chienbaese procession through the central Altstadt of Liestal
Liestal - Chienbäse - Chienbäse being paraded through the old town of Liestal
Liestal - Chienbäse fire - Chienbäse fire being paraded in Liestal
Basel Tourismus - Official website of Basel City Tourism
Mark Sukhija is a travel and wine blogger, photographer, tourism researcher, hat-touting, white-shirt-wearing, New Zealand fantatic and eclipse chaser. Aside from at least annual visits to New Zealand, Mark has seen eclipses in South Australia (2002), Libya (2006), China (2009) and Queensland (2012). After twelve years in Switzerland, Mark moved back to London in 2012. You can follow Mark on Twitter or Facebook