Carnival In Cologne: When The Festivities Commence

The Cologne Carnival, or Kölner Karneval, is an annual celebration in Cologne, Germany, that takes place in the days leading up to Shrove Tuesday, also known as Fat Tuesday, and Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. The carnival is a week-long street festival that officially begins on November 11 at 11:11 am, but the main events occur during the crazy days in the week before Lent. The carnival is known as the 'fifth season' and is considered the biggest and most important festival in Cologne, attracting over 2 million visitors each year. The festivities include street parades, people dressing up in costumes and masks, and partying in bars and streets all over the city. The highlight of the carnival is Rose Monday, which features a large parade with floats, marching bands, and participants in elaborate costumes.

The official start of Carnival

The official start of the Cologne Carnival is November 11 at 11:11 am, but the main events occur in the days leading up to Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday), the day before Ash Wednesday. The Carnival season is often referred to as the "fifth season" and is considered to be the biggest festival in the city.

The Carnival in Cologne is a week-long series of street parties, parades, and special events. It is a time when the whole city comes together to celebrate, with over 2 million visitors expected at the major parade. The festivities officially kick off with Women's Carnival Day, when women dress up in their finest costumes and gather at the Alter Markt square to open the street Carnival at 11:11 am. The Carnival is then temporarily suspended during Advent and Christmas, resuming in earnest after Epiphany on January 6.

The highlight of the Carnival is Rose Monday, two days before Ash Wednesday, which features a large parade with floats, dance groups, and music bands. This parade has been a tradition since 1823 and covers a distance of around 8 kilometres, with over 300 tonnes of sweets and 300,000 flowers thrown to the crowd. The parade is led by the "prince" of the Carnival, also known as "Seine Tollität" (His Madness), whose float is the final one in the procession.

The Carnival is a time for the people of Cologne to express their joy and pride in their city. It is a period of merrymaking and celebration before the start of the Lent season, with a vibrant and unique atmosphere that attracts millions of visitors each year.

The Dreigestirn

The Prince, or "Seine Tollität" (His Madness) in German, is the most important personage of the carnival. He is deemed to be the highest representative of the festivities and leads the main parades throughout the week. The Prince's float is the final one in the large parade on Shrove Monday. The naming of the character as the "prince" came about in 1872, before which the name was "Held Carneval" (Hero Carnival). The attributes of the character, however, have remained unchanged since the beginning. These include a crown with a peacock tail, a golden chain, a girdle with glitzy stones, white undershorts, and a purple jacket. The Prince also carries a sceptre in his right hand and a slapstick in his left. The slapstick is a general symbol of the fool but is also a fertility symbol and a symbol of the prince's reign over his people during the carnival.

The Peasant, or "Seine Deftigkeit" (His Heftyness) in German, represents the boldness of the old privileged imperial city of Cologne. The sword and the flail that he carries symbolise his loyalty to the empire and his truthfulness. As the keeper of the city, the Peasant also carries the city keys at his girdle. The key is a symbol of the heroes of the city militia contingent in the Battle of Worringen in 1288, after which the city achieved independence from the Archbishop of Cologne.

The Maiden, or "Ihre Lieblichkeit" (Her Loveliness) in German, symbolises the patronising mother Colonia and is traditionally played by a man. From 1936 to 1943, under orders from the Nazi authorities, the Maiden was played by a real woman. However, since then, the role has once again been played by a man. The Maiden wears a mural crown, symbolising the defender of the city, and her virginity. She also carries a hand mirror, symbolising female vanity, and wears a Roman dress, reminiscent of the Roman empress Agrippina, who was born in the city in 15 AD.

Costumes

If you're joining in the festivities, it's important to dress up. At the very least, wear a hat. The more imaginative, the better. In fact, a hat is the absolute minimum you're expected to wear. You can buy a "Funkenstange" beer glass, for example, and join in with the Carnival association "Kölsche Funke rut-wieß vun 1823", who will fill it up with Kölsch beer for free.

You'll see lots of red and white, the colours of the city, so expect to see people dressed like 'Where's Waldo' in striped red and white clothing. The most common costume is a jecke (or clown). You'll also see multi-coloured wigs, cowboys, tutu skirts, animal jumpsuits and pirate costumes.

If you want to go all out, there are plenty of options. You could be a historical figure, a funny animal, a fantasy creature, a superhero, candy, a detective, a living artwork, a deck of cards, or even a giant banana (the trademark of the Colognian street artist Thomas Baumgärtel).

If you're joining in with a group, you could try a pun-inspired pair, like "salt and pepper", or form a superhero squad.

Whatever you choose, remember to keep it fit for partying outdoors, as the title "street carnival" is no joke—you'll be celebrating in bars, taverns, and outside in the streets.

The Rose Monday Parade

The parade route winds its way through the city streets, attracting excited crowds on both sides. The route is about 8 kilometres long, and the parade includes over 200 floats, wagons, trailers, and cars, with approximately 13,000 people marching along. The floats typically use dark humour or tongue-in-cheek hints to caricature politicians or comment on current events.

Nubbelverbrennung

The Nubbelverbrennung, or burning of the Nubbel, is a ceremony that takes place at the end of the carnival in Cologne. The Nubbel is a dressed straw doll that serves as a scapegoat for all the transgressions and excesses that revellers have committed during the carnival. It is burned in front of pubs and other establishments on the last day of the carnival, which is known as Violet Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday, and marks the end of the "fifth season" of the year.

The tradition of the Nubbelverbrennung is thought to have emerged around 1950, although the term "Nubbel" was used independently of the straw doll in the 18th century. The burning of a figure at the end of the carnival has been historically verifiable in the Rhineland since the beginning of the 19th century. On Weiberfastnacht, the start of the street carnival, the Nubbel is placed on the facade of pubs near the door. At midnight on Violet Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday, it is carried in a short parade around the block and then solemnly burned.

During the Nubbelverbrennung ceremony, a carnivalist dressed as a cleric recites a charge, usually in dialect and often in rhyme, accusing the Nubbel of all the revellers' misdeeds. The crowd initially defends the Nubbel but is eventually convinced of its guilt and demands revenge. The accusation culminates in rhetorical questions such as, "Who is to blame that we drank away all our money? Who is to blame for cheating on our partners?". The crowd responds with jeers of "It was the Nubbel!" or "The Nubbel is to blame, let him burn!". According to carnival folklore, the burning of the Nubbel leads to the forgiveness of sins and offences committed during the carnival, and the participants are "cleaned" or "purified" of their misdeeds.

The Nubbelverbrennung is a unique and special experience that reflects the diverse nature of the Cologne Carnival. It is a ceremony that marks the end of the carnival and the beginning of the fasting period of Lent.

Frequently asked questions