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The Week in Germany: Culture

February 1, 2008

Women Revellers Snip Neckties during German Carnival

Krazy women, or "närrische Frauen", snip the tie off a hapless "victim" on Weiberfastnacht (Women's Carnival) in Mainz, where hundreds of people danced and acted foolish on Thursday, as Karneval took to the streets across the Rhineland. photos: dpa

Women revellers snipped off men's neckties or shoelaces in Lower Rhineland cities of Germany Thursday (Jan. 31) as the annual carnival celebrations in the region shifted into high gear.

Hundreds of delegates to a European conference on industrial gases were warned to watch out for women with scissors if they ventured onto the streets of Düsseldorf from the city's congress center.

Those willing to join in should wear a cheap and expendable tie, and could expect compensation with kisses from the women assailants, organizers advised the suited men.

Women's Carnival Day, on Thursday, began a six-day festival lasting till Mardi Gras with partying, variety shows, parades and 24-hour drinking in crowded taverns in a band of cities along the lower Rhine valley.

In keeping with tradition, krazy Frauen gather at 11:11 a.m. on the dot in Düsseldorf in front of the town hall, a ritual also observed in nearby Cologne, to kick off the street carnival days of the popular "fifth season".

Many businesses were short-staffed with employees demanding leave so they could join in.

German airline Lufthansa warned international passengers to the Rhine Thursday about the threat to their ties. The prank is a gesture of disrespect, but with no ill will intended.

In an ancient ritual, the town halls of Cologne and other cities formally surrendered their keys to cheering women revellers, although police kept a close eye on the ceremonies.

In the main square of Aachen, on the Dutch border, police at cordons frisked merrymakers and confiscated bottles of spirits.

In Dusseldorf, one man wore a Scottish kilt with his knees bare and many women revellers wore skimpy fancy-dress, despite an air temperature hovering just above freezing.

Carnival traditionally offers a last splurge of pleasure before the Catholic fasting season of Lent, which begins next Wednesday. (dpa)

Boys beware: wild women gearing up to go get the guys!

Links:

Karneval 2008: "Crazy Days" Begin Again (Germany.info)

My Own Private Karneval (TWIG, Feb. 1, 2008)

Karneval: Zany Winter Days (Germany.info)

Karneval Primer (Germany.info)

Looking Ahead to Carnival (The New York Times)

Cologne Carnival Museum (in German, some information in English)

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