Hey hey hey!
In a month from today will be the middle of the Carnival festival in Cologne. But what's the big fuss with the Carnival? You celebrate it just in Rio and Venice, right? Well, not exactly.
The Carnival is the period that precedes the Lent and it's celebrated in some countries through folk parties, masks and fireworks. Etymologically, the word comes from the Milanese dialect and mead goodbye meat (carne vale). It's most celebrated in Rio, in Venice, in Tenerife and on the Rhine, that includes Cologne. In 1823 took place the first Carnival parade right here on the banks of the Rhine and also then the Carnival Committee in Cologne was founded. Nonetheless the parties were held also before this time.
In a month from today will be the middle of the Carnival festival in Cologne. But what's the big fuss with the Carnival? You celebrate it just in Rio and Venice, right? Well, not exactly.
The Carnival is the period that precedes the Lent and it's celebrated in some countries through folk parties, masks and fireworks. Etymologically, the word comes from the Milanese dialect and mead goodbye meat (carne vale). It's most celebrated in Rio, in Venice, in Tenerife and on the Rhine, that includes Cologne. In 1823 took place the first Carnival parade right here on the banks of the Rhine and also then the Carnival Committee in Cologne was founded. Nonetheless the parties were held also before this time.
The Carnival has two stages: The beginning of the season with a fix date (11.11) and takes place before the Christmas fast and the spring season, when people party for a whole week.
On the 11 of November, precisely at 11:11 takes place the official opening of the Carnival season through concerts, street parties and of course blocked roads. The party last until late in the night.
In the spring the celebrations start on Thursday and last until the next Wednesday. Each day has a name: Weiberfastnacht, Karnevalfreitag, Karnevalsamstag, Tulpensonntag, Rosenmontag, Fetterdienstag and Aschermittwoch, each with specific activities.
Weiberfastnacht marks the first day of the street Carnival. The girls cut the ties of men and are allowed to kiss any man that walks pass the them for the whole period.
Karnevalfreitag or the Soot Friday is one of the calm days of the Carnival, and the tradition is to throw soot upon the participants.
Karnevalsamstag is also one of the calm days, but the youth takes the party seriously.
During the Tulip Sunday the first floats can be seen on the city's streets. They throw candy, chocolates and other funny things such as sponges, napkins, CD's and toffee. The floats belong to the schools in the area.
On the Rose Monday the big parade takes place with floats belonging to the institutions of the federal state. They are accompanied by musicians, clowns and riders that sometimes dismount and offer flowers to the young ladies. Rosenmontag is the highlight of the week.
Fetterdienstag is the last day when you party hard. At the end of the day, they burn a straw puppet which symbolizes the end of the celebration.
Aschermittwoch is the first day of the fast and everybody calms down.
The people of the region love the Carnival and this attracts both international and german tourists.
On the 11 of November, precisely at 11:11 takes place the official opening of the Carnival season through concerts, street parties and of course blocked roads. The party last until late in the night.
In the spring the celebrations start on Thursday and last until the next Wednesday. Each day has a name: Weiberfastnacht, Karnevalfreitag, Karnevalsamstag, Tulpensonntag, Rosenmontag, Fetterdienstag and Aschermittwoch, each with specific activities.
Weiberfastnacht marks the first day of the street Carnival. The girls cut the ties of men and are allowed to kiss any man that walks pass the them for the whole period.
Karnevalfreitag or the Soot Friday is one of the calm days of the Carnival, and the tradition is to throw soot upon the participants.
Karnevalsamstag is also one of the calm days, but the youth takes the party seriously.
During the Tulip Sunday the first floats can be seen on the city's streets. They throw candy, chocolates and other funny things such as sponges, napkins, CD's and toffee. The floats belong to the schools in the area.
On the Rose Monday the big parade takes place with floats belonging to the institutions of the federal state. They are accompanied by musicians, clowns and riders that sometimes dismount and offer flowers to the young ladies. Rosenmontag is the highlight of the week.
Fetterdienstag is the last day when you party hard. At the end of the day, they burn a straw puppet which symbolizes the end of the celebration.
Aschermittwoch is the first day of the fast and everybody calms down.
The people of the region love the Carnival and this attracts both international and german tourists.
But enough with the theoretical part. Let me tell you from my own experience. I've already celebrated 2x 11.11 and one week in February.
In the first year I celebrated with the university colleagues. I think it was the first time in my life when I woke up at 8 to start a party with alcohol. The "preparation" started at a colleague's apartment which is located near the center. Each one brought along a funny costume: a bee, a hobbit, a devil, a cow, an Amerindian and so on. I was a wizard. After we drank a bit we headed out in order to be there for the official opening at 11:11. It happened like the new year's eve, with a countdown and at the precise moment Viva Colonia was sung. With the loudspeakers in the street, each club attracted their public. People danced also in mini-markets, the beer was cheaper. In the evening things calmed down and the next day at the university everybody had a tom-cat ( hangover in german).
In the first year I celebrated with the university colleagues. I think it was the first time in my life when I woke up at 8 to start a party with alcohol. The "preparation" started at a colleague's apartment which is located near the center. Each one brought along a funny costume: a bee, a hobbit, a devil, a cow, an Amerindian and so on. I was a wizard. After we drank a bit we headed out in order to be there for the official opening at 11:11. It happened like the new year's eve, with a countdown and at the precise moment Viva Colonia was sung. With the loudspeakers in the street, each club attracted their public. People danced also in mini-markets, the beer was cheaper. In the evening things calmed down and the next day at the university everybody had a tom-cat ( hangover in german).
In February I was already an expert in Carnival. Especially equipped with a beer hat and alongside a funny group of international friends. The weather was our friend, the sun was nice during the day and in the night we didn't freeze. We started this time directly in the city center, where hardly a free place was to be found.
Everybody becomes suddenly very friendly, beer being an important factor. But when you have beer, then you have the toilet problem. Although there are a lot of them, the minimum queue is 30 min. So a big bladder is a must. In the evening you should party in the clubs. Pub-crawling has it's moment of fame, when you stroll from place to place until you find the perfect one. I think the happiest people during the celebration are the kebab-stall-owners and the people that gather used bottles, in order to recycle them.
At the parade you should go with a lot o space in you pockets, because they will fill up quickly with candy. Together with the friends we gathered an enormous amount of sweets. Kamelle! that what they shout from the float. Then you have to be ready to catch something, or get out of the way of a flying object. A chocolate bar in the head is not a good way to start the day.
Kölle Alaaf! is the slogan of the Cologne Carnival. You can also hear Viva Colonia and Kamelle!. You can see the joy on everybody's face and the people enjoy the time before the fast.
Everybody becomes suddenly very friendly, beer being an important factor. But when you have beer, then you have the toilet problem. Although there are a lot of them, the minimum queue is 30 min. So a big bladder is a must. In the evening you should party in the clubs. Pub-crawling has it's moment of fame, when you stroll from place to place until you find the perfect one. I think the happiest people during the celebration are the kebab-stall-owners and the people that gather used bottles, in order to recycle them.
At the parade you should go with a lot o space in you pockets, because they will fill up quickly with candy. Together with the friends we gathered an enormous amount of sweets. Kamelle! that what they shout from the float. Then you have to be ready to catch something, or get out of the way of a flying object. A chocolate bar in the head is not a good way to start the day.
Kölle Alaaf! is the slogan of the Cologne Carnival. You can also hear Viva Colonia and Kamelle!. You can see the joy on everybody's face and the people enjoy the time before the fast.
Credits
In a month the Carnival will arrive in Cologne. Already curious? So who is going to visit me in February for a hell of a party?
R.C.
In a month the Carnival will arrive in Cologne. Already curious? So who is going to visit me in February for a hell of a party?
R.C.
