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This year's
carnival theme "Magic in the Air" implies a large number of
associations. Magic is something astonishing, something indescribable, it
creates a special kind of spirit but also holds adventure and mysticism.
Carnival, the
celebration of life, is a magic time where everybody has changed and
everything is turned upside down. It is a paradox time where extremes meet,
where order is disorder and harmony is disharmony – a time where blasphemy
is sacred and taboos lose their powers. It is the time of creative
self-expression and erotic freedom. Carnival is an insane moment in time,
where the boundaries of reality and fantasy become blurred and where anarchy
and madness, freedom and fantasy rule – it is the time where “Magic is
in the Air”.
This year’s theme captures the very essence of the carnival: fantasy,
extremes, mysticism, and cults, just as boundlessness, energy and eroticism.
Following, you can find some examples related to the next years' theme - be
inspired and give free rein to your fantasy and creativity!
We dare you
to exceed the limits laid down in everyday life and to immerge in the world
of colours, impressive costumes, fantasy and creativity. So, be inspired by
this years’ theme and create your own fabulous, magic costume! We are
already looking forward to seeing your fabulous dress and the magic you will
spread all around...
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Film
&
Fiction |
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In the world of film and fiction, magic plays
a very important role. Films play with illusions, mysticism
and fantasy and spirit reality sometimes completely away.
When we just think of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”,
“Heroes”, "Superman",
“Lord of the Rings” or “Harry Potter”
- what would they be without any magic powers?
Or when we think of warlocks and witches, they
have played an essential role in stories and movies for
decades. And the witches of the 21st century - Piper, Prue
and Phoebe - are the best examples that witches must not
necessarily have warts in their faces or wear a magic hat.
Find inspiration in movies or series and dress up like your
favourite, fictional character. |
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Magic
Fairy
Tales &
Cartoons |
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One of the
most popular characters in fairy tales is
Aladdin,
one of the tales in “The Book of One Thousand and One
Nights”. Everybody knows Aladdin's magic flying carpet and
of course his magic oil lamp and the Genie that appears
when the magic lamp is rubbed.
Or just think
of
Cinderella,
the girl who had to help her stepmother and stepsisters
make beautiful dresses for the ball, but she was not allowed
to join them. So her fairy Godmother appeared and turned
Cinderella's old clothes into a beautiful gown, turned a pumpkin into a golden coach and
some mice into lovely black horses and a rat into a
coachman, so that Cinderella could attend the ball in the
end.
Other than that, Asterix & Obelix
are also popular figures - Gauls, who resist Roman
occupation by means of a magic potion, which gives the
recipient superhuman strength.
Ask yourself, which magic character is your
favourite?
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Magic
Legends |
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In the
world of legends, Merlin is one of the most
fascinating figures. Merlin is a man of mystery and magic
and wore many hats: he was a wizard, a tutor, a prophet and
adviser to several kings, including King Arthur.
When we think of King Arthur, he also holds something magic: his
magic sword Excalibur. Do you remember the fascinating sword
in the stone episode?
The legend of Camelot is just one of many - maybe you
can be inspired by myths and legends originated from your home region such as the Nordic
Mythology. |
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Extremes
- Dr. Jekyll and Hyde |
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In the world of magic there is amongst other
things white and black magic.
White magic heals and defends characters. Black magic, by
contrast, inflicts damage and aims for harm. We all know
such methods, just remember any medicine man who
tries to heal people in a kind of ritual by using spells,
dance, plants or natural liquid. On the other hand, there is
the voodoo cult. Everybody knows this kind of black
magic where a specific person gets hurt by mistreating a
voodoo doll. Or we can think of “Dracula”, the master
in occult arts and black magic.
In the world of analogy
magic, opposites play an essential role. “Everything has its
pair of opposites”. And who
doesn’t know the phrase: “Opposites attract (magically)”?
To mention just a few, there are: colossus and dwarf, devil
and angel, love god/dess and death god/dess, hot girlie and
cool man.
Could you find some “extreme” inspiration
for your carnival dress? |
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Magic
Energy
- The King is alive |
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When we think of magic, we don't need to
think of an
official or a general definition. Magic can be
interpreted in so many different ways. Ask
yourself - don’t we experience some kind of magic in our
everyday life?
Isn’t music magic? Isn’t it magic when we
feel this electricity and float away in the sea of rhythms?
Isn’t love magic? Isn’t it magic when sparks
light a fire in people's hearts?
Isn’t the carnival time itself
magic? Isn’t it magic when the carnival transforms thousands
of people into one amazing artwork?
Ask yourself, what means magic for you? |
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