CARNIVAL OF COLOGNE

Cologne is one of the most ancient metropolises of Germany already possessing historic, cultural and artistic treasures so much they are many. The carnival is a supplementary element of this heritage.

Even if it is officially at the time of Shrove Tuesday, the carnival is already in all the spirits from November.

From November 11th, the spirits warm up and everybody are occupied to prepare the festivities which will last five days. They are distributed in various categories: there is on one hand an "official" carnival with at least 400 parades and balls, the carnival kind genre "comedy" which makes fun at the official carnival and the carnival of the streets where the groups of samba mix with to the clowns. Whether it is in streets, in houses, in the offices, on the places, or in the bars, all Cologne celebrates its "crazy days ", because it’s like that the inhabitants name the carnival.

The carnival of Cologne is a part of traditions of the city then it is necessary respect numerous rites. At first, it always begins Thursday with the carnival of the women. These ladies come down in the street, dressed in their most extravagant costume and have all the rights. For example, the right to cut the tie of the men. At 11:11 am, all the participants gather in Alter Markt, a historic place of the city center, in the presence of the Prince, of the Farmer and of the Virgo, three symbolic characters of the carnival. The party is going full swing until Tuesday at midnight when all the dolls which protect from the misfortune are burned. A feeling of sadness seizes then the city and all the people say : " deeply the next year ".