Karneval in Köln

It's a festival that has many names. In some places it is called Fasching, in others it is called Fastnacht or Fassenet. In some places, including New Orleans, it is called Mardi Gras. But in Köln (Cologne) the party is known as Karneval.

In January and February, many meetings take place, with much drinking, singing, swaying arm in arm, and laughing. Folk characters tell their funny stories and sing songs. The Thursday before Ash Wednesday is known asWeiberfastnacht (Women's carnival). On Friday and Saturday big fancy-dress balls take place. On Sunday afternoon the quarters of the city and the schools have their special street parades. The official parade on Monday is the climax of the Drei tolle Tage (three crazy days). The parade is four to five miles long, and winds through the city with floats, horses, bands, jesters, and the Fools Guild in traditional uniforms. Dense crowds on the sidewalks laugh, drink, sing, flirt, scream, and try to catch candy raining down around them. The city is turned upside down, and business comes to a stop.

Links to other Karneval pages.

Carnival rides at the Domplatz	Kölner Dom in background
Plenty of food is sold!	More food!
Group costumes are popular	Friends often dress alike


The Karneval parade through town is one of the largest in Germany
It's televised in the whole country	People in floats throw candy





Cool masks!	At night, scarecrow-like puppets are burned as scapegoats for people's sins.

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Karneval in Köln

Fasching and Karneval Links