Karneval

Alaaf everybody! Today at 11:11 AM Central European Time is the beginning of Karneval. Carnival is celebrated all around the world, always during the week before Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent. In Germany it is typical to start exactly seven days earlier, on the Thursday called "Weiberfastnacht" or "Altweiber". On this special day women are allowed to cut off men's ties to end the boring and serious work days and start the joyful celebrations. In my city, Cologne, the number 11 is very important and that is why we start the celebrations at 11:11 AM. Apart from the million different costumes there are, in Cologne it is also typical to wear red and white stripes, the colours of our city. So we all get up early in the morning, dress up, start singing and meet up on the streets. The biggest celebration with an open air stage and live music from the local bands (FOR FREE, it's Karneval!!!) takes place at Haymarket. Because we have thousands of tourists visiting Cologne especially during this week and because we're all outside celebrating, it can get very crowded. To prevent accidents there are police controls at every entrance of the square to check you don't take anything made from glass. Glass is prohibited during those days. Everything, drinks, cups, etc has to be plastic. And don't worry. Cologne is prepared, everything that is usually sold in glass bottles will have a plastic alternative just for those days. So we have to meet up really early to actually see something and to be ready at 11:11 AM. Afterwards, when it's officially Karneval you can either celebrate on the streets all day or go to one of the million bars. During this week, every single bar, restaurant, bakery, cafe,..... takes out all tables and chairs to make space for the people. There is music and beer everywhere and all we do is celebrate and sing! Thursday we spend all day from morning till morning celebrating, but the other days, Friday till Tuesday are a bit less excessive. Every single day during the day, usually at some point between 10 AM and 4 PM, there are parades in certain districts. Those parade floats aren't just pretty and decorated like in any other parade. The people on top, the people walking, all are throwing sweets for us to collect. And in between the different floats are marching bands. Basically the whole point of Karneval is that everybody is happy! After those parades we get ready to go out and celebrate some more. So in contrast to the early Thursday we start to party those days in the afternoon. On Monday, instead of those small district parades we have one massive parade through the city that lasts all day. And afterwards we obviously go celebrate some more. During the last night, Tuesday night, we burn the "Nubbel", a dressed straw doll that represents the scapegoat. This tradition symbolises the end of the joyful time and the following day, Ash Wednesday is the begin of Lent.

I am afraid you can watch this video anywhere in the world you want, just not in Germany due to difficulties with the GEMA. I hope you understand. I guess if you're German you know enough about Karneval / Fasching, so it doesn't really bother you. I am sorry for the inconvenience...

Now you got a little insight into the world of Karneval. In the video you could see, we don't just celebrate it during the week before Ash Wednesday, but also on November 11^th. This week 40 days before Easter is the Karneval week, but in Cologne we have a whole Karneval season, starting exactly on November 11^th at 11:11 AM. That specific day we celebrate in the streets and pubs like during the actual Karneval week. And in between those two events the different clubs and marching bands and dancing groups prepare, the new songs are published and presented, and there are Karneval shows on stage, like in a theatre or stand-up comedy. In the video you also saw that we have to wait outside to get in. In the really popular pubs you have to wait around two to four hours to get in. So while half of the group waits in line, the other half organises beer and the typical food such as Bratwurst, "Mettbrötchen", etc. It might seem really weird to somebody who has never experienced it, but Karneval is so much fun, it is just worth it!
 

So if you plan to visit Cologne and Karneval, there are a few words you need to learn before:

Kölsch                       Deutsch                                            English

Alaaf!                         Karnevalsgruß                                Salutation and
                                                                                          expression of joy
                                                                                          during Karneval

Kölle                          Köln                                                 Cologne

Kölsch                       Bier und Dialekt                               Beer and dialect
                                                                                          from Cologne

Kamelle                     Süßigkeiten                                     Sweets
                                  (Ruf während des Umzugs)            (During the

                                                                                          parade)

Strüssjer                    Blumensträuße                               Bouquets of

                                                                                         flowers
                                  (Ruf während des Umzugs)            (During the

                                                                                          parade)

Bütze                         Küssen                                            To kiss

During Karneval we give a lot of kisses (mostly on the cheek). Many women as part of their costume and make up have the phrase "Bütz mich" (Kiss me) on their cheek, and typically when you receive a bouquet of flowers during the parade you exchange kisses on the cheek.

So I hope Karneval is a bit clearer to you now and you really want to visit Cologne. As you might have noticed, after Christmas this is my second most favourite time of the year. Which is why I am incredibly happy that tomorrow it's time for my last exam. On Saturday I am flying back home and join the Karneval celebrations!

Alaaaaf!!!

Jen