The scary masks of Fastnacht

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is the last day before Lent and the culmination of vibrant carnivals across the world. Whilst Rio might win the prize for the most spectacular, Fastnacht, the pre-Lenten carnival celebrated in parts of Germany, Switzerland, Alsace and Austria could take the title of most scary. Here are some of our favourite photos of carnival-goers parading down the streets in terrifying masks.

Parade at Swabian Fastnacht in Lindau, Bavaria, Germany (Image Broker/Robert Harding)

Fastnacht at Ravensburg, Allgaeu, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany (Image Broker/Robert Harding)

An old woman mask in Fastnacht, Lindau, Allgaeu, Bavaria, Germany (Image Broker/Robert Harding)

Terrifying cats at Fastnacht in Lindau, Bavaria, Germany (Image Broker/Robert Harding)

Witches at Alemannic Fasnacht, Freiburg, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany (Image Broker/Robert Harding)

People wearing masks at Fasnacht carnival, Imst, Austria (Adam Woolfitt/Robert Harding)

Strange creatures at Lindau, Allgaeu, Bavaria, Germany (Image Broker/Robert Harding)

Ravensburg, Allgaeu, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany (Image Broker/Robert Harding)

Sinister men at Ravensburg, Allgaeu, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany (Image Broker/Robert Harding)

Planet of the apes at Fastnacht, Ravensburg, Allgaeu, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany (Image Broker/Robert Harding)

Flames at Fastnacht in Ravensburg, Allgaeu, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany (Image Broker/Robert Harding)

Men with corn eyebrows, Allgaeu, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany (Image Broker/Robert Harding)

Swabian-Alemannic Fasnacht in Konstanz, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe

Swabian Fastnacht, Ravensburg, Allgaeu, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany (Image Broker/Robert Harding)

A green man at Ravensburg, Allgaeu, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany (Image Broker/Robert Harding)

Just don’t look into its eyes. Ravensburg, Allgaeu, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany (Image Broker/Robert Harding)

See more photos of Fastnacht here