Fasnacht traditions in Liechtenstein go back hundreds of years. Villages organise their own parades with local groups dressed in handmade costumes - some funny, some spooky, some brilliantly creative. Brass bands and drummers lead the processions through narrow village streets while bystanders cheer and clap.
One of the most striking features of Fasnacht is the masks. Traditional carnival masks are carved from wood and painted in vivid colours, each with its own character - a grinning fool, a wide-eyed witch, a mischievous creature from an old story. Making and wearing a mask is part of the fun, and some families have masks that have been handed down for generations.
Fasnacht ends with Funkensonntag - Bonfire Sunday - when a large bonfire is lit in the village to signal the end of winter and the coming of spring. Everyone gathers round the fire, and on top of it sits a straw figure called the 'Funken', which represents winter being chased away. It is a cheerful, noisy, fire-lit farewell to the cold months.