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Karneval Primer
 
Karneval celebrations begin each year at precisely 11:11 a.m.
on November 11. Revelers in many cities storm the city hall, and the
newly selected "Prince Karneval" is presented to the citizens in a
festival.
Men wearing ties should beware of women carrying scissors on
Weiberfastnacht, the day on which women rule. Men who dare wear ties
on this day — the Thursday before Ash Wednesday — will
likely see them chopped off. The day also marks the start of a final,
long weekend during which celebrations peak. |
Events in cities vary, but most boast their biggest parade
on Rosenmontag, the Monday before Ash Wednesday.
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Karneval committees, some established more than 100 years ago,
are in charge of organizing the festivities in cities and towns
each year. In Cologne, arguably the most enthusiastic Karneval city,
a million people turn out to watch the clubs parade their elaborate
floats through the ancient streets, with millions more watching
on television.
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The end of the "fifth season" in Cologne is marked by the burning
of a life-size doll called the "Nubbel" at midnight the Tuesday before
Ash Wednesday. |
A Catholic tradition, Karneval has never caught on in the Protestant
regions of Germany in the North and East.
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Berlin, however, has started to see signs of Karneval celebration
as transplanted government workers from Bonn and the Rhine region
introduce the tradition a little more each year. A Karneval parade
was seen in Berlin in 2002 for the first time since 1958.
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The Central Archive of German in Kitzingen houses a collection
of publications on Karneval traditions in Germany and Europe, including
the oldest known scientific paper on Karneval dating from 1723. |
 Images are from
Kölner Karneval
Karneval Worldwide
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