The Schembart Carnival (German: Schembartlauf, from Schembart (lit. ’bearded mask‘, Middle High German: schëme, schëm ‚mask‘ and Lauf, ‚run, running‘) was popular in Nuremberg, Germany in the 15th century before it ended in 1539. The carnival featured costumed men with masks carved of wood, carrying on and generally acting foolishly. Along with music, song, food and drink, the carnival featured speakers who poked fun at politicians, persons of power, and policies of the government.
You want to know more? Take a journey into the past: to extravagant feasts, dancing butchers, and privileges bought at a high price—to the Schembartlauf! A look back at late medieval society on the threshold of the early modern era.