Carnival In Cologne: Where To Celebrate And Party

The Cologne Carnival is an annual festival held in Cologne, Germany. It is one of the oldest, largest, and most exciting festivals in Europe, attracting millions of visitors each year. The carnival is a cultural street celebration that involves dressing up in costumes, drinking beer, singing, dancing, and parades. The festival dates back to the Middle Ages and is considered the fifth season of the year in Cologne, beginning on November 11 at 11:11 am and ending on Ash Wednesday. The main events, known as the crazy days, take place in the six days leading up to Lent and include non-stop parties, balls, concerts, and parades. The highlight of the carnival is Rose Monday, two days before Ash Wednesday, when the largest carnival parade in Germany takes place.

The carnival takes place annually in Cologne, Germany

The carnival is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of November, although the festivities are temporarily suspended during the Advent and Christmas period. The carnival spirit picks up again after Epiphany on the 6th of January. The time of merrymaking in the streets is officially declared open at downtown square "Alter Markt" on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent.

The highlight of the carnival is Rose Monday (Rosenmontag), two days before Ash Wednesday. Throughout these days, people in Cologne go out in masquerade, and the typical greeting during the festival is "Kölle Alaaf!", a Kölsch phrase which translates to 'Cologne Above All Else'.

The carnival is a series of street parties, parades, and special events, with over 2 million visitors expected at the major parade. It is considered the single most important festival in Cologne and is the largest Karneval celebration in all of Germany. The carnival is an expression of joy and pride in Cologne, with people coming together to celebrate, meet new people, and express their love for the city.

The carnival has a rich history that dates back to Pagan times before Christianity. The inaugural Carnival parade happened in 1823 as a protest against the Prussian occupation of Cologne. The whole atmosphere is somewhat tongue-in-cheek, with hints of dark humour. During the parade, floats depict current political and social themes, often in a joking manner.

The carnival is not considered a national German holiday, but in Cologne, many shops, schools, and offices remain closed from Thursday through Tuesday. The festivities officially end with the burning of the Nubbel on the night of Ash Wednesday. The Nubbel is a straw doll that hangs above many pubs where the carnival is celebrated. It is theatrically carried to the grave and burned at the end of the carnival.

It is one of the largest and oldest festivals in Europe

The Cologne Carnival is one of the largest and oldest festivals in Europe. It is the biggest carnival in Germany, attracting over 2 million visitors each year. The festival is also referred to as "the fifth season of the year" by locals.

The carnival's roots can be traced back to Pagan times before Christianity. However, the Carnival Festival Committee, which organises the official carnival, was founded in 1823, and the inaugural parade took place in the same year. The carnival has been celebrated annually ever since.

The carnival officially begins on the 11th of November at 11:11 am, but the main events, known as the "crazy days", occur during the last five days of the festival, from Thursday before Lent (Fat Thursday or Weiberfastnacht) to Ash Wednesday. During these "crazy days", the streets of Cologne are filled with masquerades, parades, street parties, and special events. The highlight of the carnival is Rose Monday, two days before Ash Wednesday, when over 1 million people attend the parade.

The carnival is six days of non-stop partying

The carnival is a unique folk festival that attracts millions of visitors each year. It is a week-long series of street parties, parades and special events. There is a festive spirit throughout the "fifth season", but the high point is a six-day stretch from Silly Thursday (the Thursday before Lent) to Fat Tuesday.

On the first day of the carnival, costumed revellers known as "jecken" flood the streets. The main opening ceremony takes place on the Alter Markt, with the carnival figurehead prince, farmer and virgin (known as the Dreigestirn) present to kick off festivities.

On the second day, Friday, the daytime hours are largely for nursing hangovers. In the early evening, partyers march together from Cologne's main squares to the Alter Markt with sparklers, where a fun stage programme with performances awaits.

On the third day, Saturday, the big daytime event is the Funkenbiwak, which takes place on the Neumarkt. This gathering is organised by the Roten Funken, the oldest carnival group in the city. There is a stage programme with performances and a performance of the traditional Roten Funken dance, the Stippeföttche. There is also plenty of traditional pea soup and Kölsch beer.

On the fourth day, Sunday, the main event is the Schull- und Veedelszöch, a mini version of the Rose Monday parade, with dozens of school and smaller community groups.

On the fifth day, Monday, the main event is the world-famous Rose Monday parade. With a route spanning 6.5km, the parade lasts three hours, during which time 140 tonnes of sweets, 700,000 bars of chocolate and 300,000 flowers are thrown to the crowd.

On the sixth day, Violet Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday, the partying begins to wind down. However, this day does have one very special event: the Nubbelverbrennung, the burning of a straw effigy called the Nubbel. The Nubbel is a helpless scapegoat for all the partygoers' sins, and is burned while people sing, chant and get drunk.

The official carnival parade is organised by the Cologne Carnival Festival Committee

The Cologne Carnival Festival Committee plays a crucial role in governing the carnival parades, masked balls, and related events. They ensure the smooth organisation and coordination of the various elements that make up the carnival celebration. This includes the spectacular floats, marching bands, dance groups, and music bands that participate in the parade.

The carnival parade in Cologne is a highlight of the festivities and attracts a large number of visitors. The parade route spans several kilometres and is filled with colourful costumes, music, and excitement. The participants in the parade throw sweets and flowers to the spectators, adding to the festive atmosphere.

In addition to the official carnival parade, there are also many autonomous carnival events that take place throughout the city's bars, clubs, and local communities. These events add to the vibrant and diverse nature of the carnival celebration in Cologne. The Cologne Carnival Festival Committee's organisation and management of the official carnival parade help ensure that it runs smoothly and safely, contributing to the overall success and enjoyment of the carnival festivities.

The Cologne Carnival is a significant event in the city's cultural calendar, with a long history and deep roots in the local community. It is a time when the people of Cologne come together to celebrate, have fun, and express their pride in their city. The carnival parade, organised by the dedicated committee, is a central part of these celebrations, providing an opportunity for the community to unite and showcase their creativity, joy, and unique traditions.

The festival ends with the burning of the Nubbel

The Cologne Carnival is a yearly festival held in Cologne, Germany. It is the city's most important festival, attracting over 2 million visitors annually. The carnival is a week-long celebration filled with street parties, parades, and special events. People dress up in costumes and masks, partying in bars and in the streets all over the city.

The festival traditionally ends with the burning of the Nubbel, a dressed straw doll that serves as a scapegoat for all the transgressions and sins committed during the carnival. The burning of the Nubbel is a ceremony that takes place on the night of Ash Wednesday, marking the end of the "fifth season" of carnival celebrations. The Nubbel hangs above many pubs during the carnival season and is theatrically carried to the grave and burned at the end.

The tradition of burning the Nubbel involves a mock trial and funeral procession. A carnivalist dressed as a cleric recites a charge, usually in dialect and often in rhyme, accusing the Nubbel of various wrongdoings. The crowd initially defends the Nubbel but eventually demands revenge, shouting, "It was the Nubbel!" or "The Nubbel is to blame, let him burn!". The burning of the Nubbel symbolically leads to the forgiveness of sins and offences, and the group returns to the pub to continue the carnival music until Ash Wednesday morning, marking the official end of the carnival season.

The exact sequence of this tradition varies from city to city and from pub to pub. Typically, the Nubbel is placed on the facade of pubs near the door on Weiberfastnacht, the start of the street carnival. At midnight on Shrove Tuesday, the Nubbel is carried in a short parade around the block by torchlight or candlelight to its grave, where it is burned.

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