Caen's Student Carnival: A memorable event for international students

For Sebastian, who is from Germany, the tradition of carnivals is already quite familiar. He has taken part in other carnivals in his home country before, although never specifically a student carnival. For James and Ethan, however, last week's event was their very first carnival experience. All three said they were excited to discover and take part in one of Caen's most distinctive student traditions.

Excitement ahead of the parade

Ahead of the parade and festivities, the students said they were looking forward to the cultural side of the event, particularly discovering the kind of music French students listen to at festivals.

They were also hoping to hear songs by Maître Gims, enjoy some good food and experience what they described as a "reasonable amount of chaos", something they felt was an essential part of any successful student celebration.

How carnival traditions differ around the world

Sebastian, who came dressed as an après-ski skier, was the only one of the three who had celebrated carnival before. He explained that in southern Germany, where he is from, carnival traditions often involve wooden masks, some of which can appear quite scary and dangerous. He also noted that celebrations vary considerably from one region to another in Germany.

James, dressed as a pigeon, said that this kind of celebration is less common in northern England, where he is from. Ethan, from China, came dressed as a murderer and said that the closest equivalent to a carnival in his home country would be anime conventions, where people dress up as their favourite characters. Despite that similarity, he explained that the carnival was still very different from this and a new experience for him.

A standout event for international students in Caen

Although the carnival itself is not a uniquely French invention and is celebrated in many parts of the world, Caen's student carnival appears to offer something quite different. For many international students, it is seen as both an unusual cultural experience and one of the highlights of the academic year. The parade was filled with costumes, music and thousands of students, creating an atmosphere that was both festive and unmistakably "Caen" in its identity.

There was no shortage of creativity on display in the streets during the carnival, with students dressed as everything from animals and film characters to disco balls and other imaginative creations. Among the international students experiencing the event for the first time were two Norwegian students, Ida and Tuva, who wore matching costumes inspired by the Trolls film.

For students arriving in a new country, events like the Caen Student Carnival can offer more than just entertainment. They create moments of connection, cultural discovery and shared memories. For James, Ethan and Sebastian, last week's celebrations were not only a first carnival, but also a memorable introduction to one of Caen's most vibrant student traditions.