Narresome: Children in the Fastnacht Guilds

Villinger Stachi junior
Baby Hänsele in Überlingen

Children in the Fastnacht are known as "Narresome" (Narrensamen - jester seed). Since they are the future, the guilds want and support them. Many guilds organize separate parades and events for children. In addition to the Fastnacht season, most guilds also offer activities for children and families throughout the year.
Kids of all ages also take part in the big parades, at least in those that take place in the daytime. They first stay at the hand of a parent, when they are older they go on their own.

Fransenkleidle in Rottweil --------------- Witch mum and daughter in Freiburg

Children usually go in the same full Häs as the adults, but in most places smaller kids will not yet wear masks. Some guilds paint the faces of the children instead. If they wear masks, you can only guess from the size how old the person inside the Häs may be.

Villingen
Parents who are members of a guild will drag their offspring along to the parades as soon as the littlies fit in a miniature Häs and survive being outdoors for a couple of hours. You will see babies and toddlers in their prams and strollers, still unable to walk but already wearing a Häs. Cute!

Family in Freiburger Höllengilde
I cannot help but wonder, though, how they teach a one year-old that the scary witch pushing the pram is his mama!