Cologne Carnival: A Local's Guide To The Festivities

The Cologne Carnival is an annual festival held in Cologne, Germany. Known as the fifth season, the carnival is one of the oldest, largest, and most exciting festivals in Europe, attracting millions of people each year. The carnival is characterised by colourful costumes, music, parades, and non-stop partying in the streets, squares, and bars of the city. With a history dating back to the Middle Ages, the Cologne Carnival is a unique and vibrant celebration not to be missed.

Cologne Carnival is held annually in Cologne, Germany

The Cologne Carnival is held annually in Cologne, Germany, and is one of the largest and most famous carnival events in the world. With a history almost as old as the city itself, the carnival has been celebrated for around 200 years in its current form. The carnival is known as the "fifth season" and officially begins on November 11 at 11:11 am, ending on Ash Wednesday. However, the main events, known as the "crazy days", take place in February, with countless parties, parades, and celebrations across the city.

The carnival is a time when the people of Cologne let loose and embrace their wild side. The entire city is transformed as people dress up in extravagant costumes, sing, dance, and indulge in beer and liquor. It is said that during the carnival, the world turns upside down, and behaviours that are usually frowned upon are celebrated. People are encouraged to act foolishly, dress outrageously, and mock the elites without consequences.

The highlight of the carnival is Rose Monday, two days before Ash Wednesday. On this day, thousands of people in costumes gather to dance and party in the streets, while calling for flowers and treats from the decorated floats. The Rose Monday Parade is the largest carnival parade in Germany, attracting over 1.5 million attendees.

The carnival is officially opened by three main figures: the Prince, the Peasant, and the Maiden, who are collectively known as the Dreigestirn or triumvirate. These characters embody the spirit of the carnival and have official duties, treated like celebrities during the festivities. They lead the main parades and can be seen on floats, along with other colourful characters.

The carnival is also a time for music and merriment, with traditional German carnival songs being played and sung throughout the city. The typical greeting during the festival is "Kölle Alaaf!", a Kölsch phrase meaning "Cologne above all!". The festive atmosphere continues into the night, with parties, masked balls, and indoor celebrations across the city.

The Cologne Carnival comes to an end with the burning of the Nubbel, a straw doll that represents all the sins and misdeeds committed during the carnival. This tradition symbolically absolves everyone of their carnival indulgences, marking the official close of the festivities.

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 almost as old as the city of Cologne itself, with a carnival tradition spanning 200 years. The carnival is also referred to as "the fifth season of the year" by locals.

The carnival takes place annually in Cologne, Germany, and is one of the most famous carnival events worldwide. It is celebrated by the "Jecken", a synonym for carnival lovers, who organise their festivities in a manner that has been passed down for centuries.

The crazy days of the carnival are the most highly anticipated, commencing on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday. During these week-long celebrations, revellers dressed in bright costumes pack the streets, pubs, and public squares, with closing times for bars suspended. The typical greeting during the festival is "Kölle Alaaf!", a Kölsch phrase.

The highlight of the carnival is the Rose Monday Parade, which includes the march of the Dreigestirn—the Prince, the Peasant, and the Maiden—through the city. This trio of characters has existed since 1883, though they were individual figures before being united in the 1820s. The carnival prince, also known as "Seine Tollität" (His Madness), is the most important personage, leading the main parades and appearing last in the large parade on Shrove Monday.

The carnival is a week-long celebration of merrymaking, with countless parties, balls, and stage shows. It is organised by the Festkomitee Kölner Karneval (Cologne Carnival Celebration Committee), founded in 1823. The carnival traditionally ends with the burning of the Nubbel, a straw doll that is carried to the grave and set alight on the night of Ash Wednesday.

The carnival has been celebrated for about 200 years

The Cologne Carnival, or "Fastelovend" in the local dialect, is a carnival that takes place annually in Cologne, Germany. It is one of the largest and most famous carnival events worldwide, with a history spanning about 200 years. While the city itself is much older, the Cologne "Jecken", or carnival lovers, only began organising their celebrations in the current manner around two centuries ago.

The carnival season, also known as the "fifth season", traditionally starts on November 11 at 11:11 am. However, the street carnival, which is a popular week-long festival, begins much later, from "Weiberfastnacht" (Women's Carnival Day) to Ash Wednesday. During this period, the city of Cologne comes alive with countless parties, masked balls, and parades in streets, squares, and bars. The highlight of the carnival is Rose Monday, two days before Ash Wednesday, when the official parade takes place, attracting over a million people in colourful costumes.

The carnival is organised by the Festkomitee Kölner Karneval (Cologne Carnival Celebration Committee), which was founded in 1823. The committee oversees the official carnival with its parades, balls, and stage shows. However, there are also numerous autonomous carnival events throughout the city's bars, clubs, and local communities. These include the "Stunksitzung", a leftist comedy show that pokes fun at both traditional carnival customs and politics.

The carnival is filled with unique traditions and rituals. Every year, three people are granted the titles of "Jungfrau" (maiden), "Prinz" (prince), and "Bauer" (peasant), who play important roles in the festivities. The prince, also known as "Seine Tollität" (His Madness), is the most important figure, leading the main parades. The trio of characters has existed since 1883, but they entered the Cologne carnival in the 1820s.

The carnival also includes the burning of the "Nubbel", a straw doll that represents the sins of the carnivalgoers. The Nubbel is hung above pubs during the celebrations and is theatrically carried to the grave and burned on the night of Ash Wednesday, marking the end of the carnival season.

The festival includes countless parties, parades, and dances

The Cologne Carnival is a week-long festival of street parties, parades, balls, and dances. It is the city's most important festival, attracting over 2 million visitors annually. The carnival is also known as the "fifth season" and is a time when normal life in Cologne is suspended. Many public institutions are closed, and the city is turned upside down.

The festival officially begins on the Thursday before Lent, known as Weiberfastnacht or Women's Carnival Day, and ends on Ash Wednesday. However, the "crazy days" of Carnival, marked by countless parties in the streets, squares, and bars, take place in February. The Carnival season is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of November, but the festivities are temporarily suspended during the Advent and Christmas period.

The Carnival includes a mix of organised and autonomous events. The official carnival, with its parades, balls, and stage shows, is run by the Festkomitee Kölner Karneval (Cologne Carnival Festival Committee). This committee was founded in 1823, and the inaugural Carnival parade took place in the same year as a protest against the Prussian occupation of Cologne. The parade route passes through the city centre, with floats, foot groups, dance groups, and music bands participating. Over 200 floats, wagons, trailers, and cars take part in the parade, with approximately 13,000 people marching along. The parade is led by the carnival prince, who is deemed the highest representative of the festivities. The prince is followed by the peasant and the maiden, who together form the Dreigestirn or triumvirate. These three characters are the mascots of the Carnival and appear in various events throughout the season.

In addition to the main parade, there are numerous other processions and parades during the Carnival. These include the famous Geisterzug or "ghost parade", which takes place on the Saturday evening before Carnival, and the Veedelszüge or local parades in the different neighbourhoods of the city. The Carnival also includes masked balls, street parties, and open-air sessions organised by Carnival associations. Closing times for bars and pubs are suspended during the festival, allowing for countless indoor and open-air parties.

The carnival is known for its extravagant costumes

The Cologne Carnival, or "Fastelovend" in the local dialect, is a world-famous event that attracts costumed revellers from all over the world. The carnival is known for its extravagant costumes, with participants going all out with imaginative and colourful outfits. While there is no such thing as being overdressed, a hat is considered the bare minimum. The weirder, the better!

The carnival is not just about the costumes, though. It's a time when the whole city of Cologne comes alive with non-stop partying in the streets, squares, and bars. The festivities officially kick off on November 11, but the real action happens in February, with the famous Rose Monday Parade as the highlight. This parade features the Prince, the Peasant, and the Maiden—the three main figures of the carnival—and is the largest carnival parade in Germany, spanning six kilometres.

The carnival is also a time for music and dancing. Drumming and marching bands are a frequent sound during the celebrations, and people spontaneously sing, dance, and sway until the early hours of the morning. The colourful and lively atmosphere is truly magical, with people of all ages joining in the fun.

One unique aspect of the Cologne Carnival is the "Nubbel", a straw figure that hangs from the facades of pubs during the festivities. The Nubbel represents all the sins committed by revellers during the carnival, and burning it at the end of the carnival signifies a fresh start. This ritual is more than just a party; it's a folk tradition that brings people together and strengthens community bonds.

The Cologne Carnival is an event like no other, with its combination of extravagant costumes, non-stop partying, and unique traditions. It's a celebration that truly comes to life through the creativity and enthusiasm of its participants, making it one of the most famous carnivals in the world.

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