Cologne Carnival: Know The Start Date And History

The Cologne Carnival is an annual festival that takes place in Cologne, Germany. It is one of the largest and oldest festivals in Europe, with a history that dates back to the Middle Ages. The carnival is a celebration of the city's culture and heritage, and it attracts millions of visitors each year. The festivities include parades, balls, street parties, and other events that take place throughout the city. The official start of the carnival season, known as the fifth season, is on November 11 at 11:11 am, but the main events, also known as the crazy days, take place in February, in the week leading up to Lent.

The carnival starts on 11 November at 11:11 am

On this day, the carnival's three main figures present themselves to the public alongside performances by musicians at the Alter Markt, attracting thousands of spectators. The carnival spirit is then put on hold during the Advent and Christmas period, resuming after Epiphany in the New Year. The time of merrymaking in the streets is officially declared open at downtown square "Alter Markt" on the Thursday before Lent.

The Cologne Carnival is one of the largest and most famous carnival events worldwide. It is a highlight for "Narren" (costumed fools) and attracts millions of people to the city every year. The carnival is characterised by colourful costumes, parades, parties, and a suspension of rules, including the suspension of closing times for bars and pubs.

The highlight of the carnival is Rose Monday, two days before Ash Wednesday. On this day, the carnival prince, as the most important personage, leads the large parade, with his float being the final one. The carnival traditionally ends with the burning of the Nubbel, a straw doll that represents the sins of carnival-goers, on the night of Ash Wednesday.

It's one of the largest carnivals in Europe

The Cologne Carnival, or "Fastelovend" in the local dialect, is one of the largest carnivals in Europe. It is almost as old as the city itself, with a history of 200 years of carnival tradition. The carnival is held annually in Cologne, Germany, and is one of the most famous carnival events worldwide.

The carnival season, also known as the "fifth season", officially begins on the 11th of November at 11:11 am. However, the real carnival days, also known as the "crazy days", take place in February, marked by festivities in the streets, squares, and bars of the city. The "crazy days" last for about a week, from Fat Thursday ("Weiberfastnacht") to Ash Wednesday ("Aschermittwoch").

The highlight of the carnival is Rose Monday ("Rosenmontag"), two days before Ash Wednesday. This is when the official parade takes place, with thousands of people in costumes dancing and partying in the streets. The parade features floats, foot groups, dance groups, and music bands, spanning up to 8 kilometres in length. Over 300 tonnes of sweets and 300,000 flowers are thrown to the crowd during the parade.

The carnival is organised by the Festkomitee Kölner Karneval (Cologne Carnival Celebration Committee), founded in 1823. There are also many autonomous carnival events throughout the city's bars, clubs, and local communities. The carnival traditionally ends with the burning of the "Nubbel", a straw doll that represents the sins of the carnival-goers, on the night of Ash Wednesday.

The Cologne Carnival attracts more than a million spectators to the streets each year, making it one of the largest street festivals in Europe. It is a unique folk festival that casts its spell over millions of visitors, offering an unforgettable experience of merrymaking, colourful costumes, and joyous celebrations.

The main events are called the crazy days

The Cologne Carnival is one of the largest and most famous carnival events in the world. The main events are called the "crazy days", and they are characterised by endless parties, parades, dances, balls, music sessions, cultural gatherings, and costumes.

The crazy days kick off with Women's Carnival Day, which sees women dressed in their finest costumes and gather at the Alter Markt to open the street carnival at exactly 11:11 am. The carnival is then opened by the three main carnival figures: the Prince, the Maiden, and the Peasant. These figures are everyday people from various backgrounds, and it is an honour to be chosen to lead the celebrations. They are treated like celebrities and have over 400 appearances across the carnival.

During the crazy days, there are countless parties in the streets, squares, bars, restaurants, and pubs throughout the city. The typical greeting during the festival is "Kölle Alaaf!", a Kölsch phrase that translates to "Cologne above all!". The colourfully dressed Corps troop can be seen gathered on Saturday at the Neumarkt. On Carnival Sunday, different school-age children come together in fancy dress to parade through the city's neighbourhoods.

The climax of the crazy days is the official parade on Rose Monday, which includes the march of Cologne's Dreigestirn (triumvirate) - the Prince, the Peasant, and the Maiden - through the city. The parade features thousands of people in costume, floats, music, and dancing. The prince is traditionally in the last float.

The crazy days come to an end on Shrove Tuesday, with more parades and costumed people celebrating in the streets. The carnival concludes on Ash Wednesday with the burning of the Nubbel, a straw figure meant to represent all the sins of the carnival-goers, and large community dinners.

It's Germany's wildest party

Germany's wildest party, Cologne Carnival, is a six-day extravaganza of non-stop partying, with drinking, dancing, and parades. It is one of the largest and oldest festivals in Europe, with millions of people flocking to the city every year. The carnival is often described as "crazy days" and is known as the "fifth season" of the year to locals.

The carnival kicks off with Women's Carnival Day, where women dress up in their finest costumes and gather at Alter Markt, the downtown square. The "crazy days" are then filled with countless parties in the streets, squares, and bars, with people dressed in extravagant and bizarre costumes, wigs, masks, and body paint. The official parade on Rose Monday is the highlight of the carnival, with thousands of people in costumes dancing and partying in the streets. The carnival concludes with the burning of the Nubbel, a straw figure that represents the sins of the carnival-goers, and the end of carnival is marked on Ash Wednesday.

The carnival is led by three main figures: the Prince, the Peasant, and the Maiden, who are treated like celebrities and have over 400 appearances. These are everyday people who are chosen for the honour of leading the celebrations and are not allowed to work during this time. The trio has existed since 1883, and the prince is considered the most important personage of the carnival, with his float being the final one in the parade.

The carnival is a time when the usual rules are suspended, with closing times for bars and pubs lifted and people acting as they please without consequences. It is a time for the people of Cologne to let loose and transform the city into a colourful and vibrant celebration. The traditional greeting during the festival is "Kölle Alaaf!", which translates to "Cologne above all" and dates back to 1550.

Cologne Carnival is a unique and exciting event that turns the city into a non-stop party, with people of all ages coming together to celebrate and let their wild side loose. It is a time-honoured tradition that has been celebrated for almost 200 years and is an integral part of the city's culture and history.

The carnival ends with the burning of the Nubbel

The Cologne Carnival is an annual event that takes place in Cologne, Germany. It is one of the largest and most famous carnival events worldwide, with a history spanning over 200 years. The carnival is characterised by colourful costumes, parades, balls, and street festivals. The festivities kick off on November 11th, but the main carnival days occur in February, leading up to Rose Monday, the highlight of the celebration.

The carnival ends on Ash Wednesday with the burning of the Nubbel, a dressed straw doll that serves as a scapegoat for the sins and wrongdoings committed during the carnival. The Nubbel, also known as Zacheies in the Cologne carnival, is often hung above pubs during the carnival season. On Ash Wednesday night, it is carried in a funeral procession, complete with a mock trial and rhetorical accusations, before being burned to symbolise the forgiveness of sins and the official end of the carnival.

The burning of the Nubbel is a long-standing tradition in the Rhenish carnival, dating back to the 19th century. The ceremony involves a carnivalist dressed as a cleric, reciting charges and leading the crowd in declaring the Nubbel's guilt. The Nubbel is then theatrically carried to its grave and burned, marking the end of the carnival's merrymaking and festivities.

The exact sequence of events during the Nubbel burning ceremony may vary from city to city and even between different pubs. Some variations include carrying the Nubbel in a short parade around the block by torch or candlelight before the mock trial and burning. The burning of the Nubbel symbolises renewal and the erasure of wrongdoings, allowing participants to start afresh as the carnival comes to a close.

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