Surviving Schutzenfest

 I must apologize in advance for the drunk pictures. However, one cannot post pictures of their time at Schutzenfest without posting drunk pictures... superb fun!

Marina, Lena and I.

On the dance floor with my favorite dance partner.

One of the last songs they play at the end of the night talks about rowing, so everyone sits on the floor like this while pretending like they're rowing and singing super loud.

Just thought this was interesting... A drunk lady sitting behind us was doing a handstand on the table. I thought for sure she would break her neck.

Another dance/song they have at the end of the night talks about a picture frame, and it has been a tradition to pick up a chair and put it over your head and dance like that while singing the song. Apparently the back of the chair kind of looks like a picture frame??

Chatting with the singer from the band. She fluently spoke German, English, Spanish and French.

Just some new friends.

Schutzenfest has a king and queen each year. The king is selected by having a shooting competition. On the last day, the new king gets a bunch of presents and flowers from the other "Riflemen." This pictures is just showing some of the men returning from giving their gifts to the king and queen.

Yes... each time a group of people goes up to the bar for drinks, they literally order multiple shots/drinks. Welcome to Germany.

So all the men are called "Riflemen" or "Schutzen" and they are the ones to dress up and march in the parade and such. They also get a free "Ladies ticket" to give to a lady, and this was my date for the weekend. His nickname was "Doctor Arnold." He's a friend's dad whose wife was on vacation for the week. He has some BA dance moves too. (Friends, remind me to show you next time I'm home and out with you.)

Marina's and my dance partners. Marina is a pro dancing with the guys... Her dance partner was "Lord Peace" or the guy on the right.

Water gun fight on the dance floor. I wonder if the bars in Madison would be okay with this? (Sorry about the drunkenness.)

Another tradition is to have the guys twirling the flags during the parade. On the last night of Schutzenfest, they have a routine they do for everyone. I just caught the end so they aren't doing very crazy routines, but it was still interesting to see.

Another tradition... at the end of the night on the last night of Schutzenfest everyone makes a circle and sings a song. Marina's friend Rina hurt her hip and can't walk without crutches, so the guys took away her crutches and put her on a stool in the center. Not sure about the creep singing to her?

Laura and Ben's end of the night dancing. Again... obsessed with slow mo. 

Schutzenfest was definitely fun to say the least. I don't think I've drank four nights in a row since I moved to Madison 2 years ago, but I had a blast!
PS. The way that German's help their stomachs feel better when they are full from eating so much is to drink a shot of tequila or jagermeister. Needless to say, Marina's dad gave me a shot of tequila to feel better. Personally, I think it's just because it makes you drunk so you forget the feeling, but they claim it helps your stomach digest the food. Who knows!