Fastelavn

Fastelavn per Wikipedia: Some towns in Denmark are renowned for their large Fastelavn festivities and parades. Traditional events include slå katten af tønden (“hit the cat out of the barrel”), which is somewhat similar to using a piñata. The Danes use a wooden barrel, which is full of candy and sometimes oranges and has the image of a cat on it. Historically there was a real black cat in the barrel, and beating the barrel was superstitiously considered a safeguard against evil. After the candy pours out, the game continues until the entire barrel is broken. The one who knocks down the bottom of the barrel (making all the candy spill out) becomes kattedronning (“queen of cats”); the one who knocks down the last piece of the barrel becomes kattekonge (“king of cats”).