Our first Carnival in Cologne
Carnival is a pretty big deal here in Cologne. Even now having been through one myself, I still don't understand it completely. It all starts on 11.11, November 11th is the opening of the carnival time, and it goes through to Ash Wednesday. But people don't really celebrate everyday throughout that time.
The 11.11 is a celebratory day, and then the days leading up to Ash wednesday are as well. Starting officially on the Thursday before and I believe officially ending the Tuesday. With a huge parade on the Monday - Rosenmontag.
We celebrated on 11.11, and also two days during the "official" carnival weekend. Its pretty interesting. As an outsider looking in, you would probably say, it looks like a huge party, an excuse to drink and dress up. But having spent the time with some locals, it is definitely more than that.
Yes of course there is a party, but it is also a big cultural pride thing, especially pride of their city, and expressing that through songs. The songs are a big part of the celebrations, and learning the songs gives you a lot more insight into the traditions of the whole thing. People in Cologne are very proud of their city, and from what I saw, Carnival is a big way for them to help to display that love of their city.
You dress up and hit the streets, if you are lucky you get invited to a local party. But people everywhere are so open during this time, you end up with random conversations in trams, at the bus station, etc.
The highlight for me was definitely the big parade on the monday, there were so many people out, yet it didn't feel unsafe. People would yell for sweets and flowers as the floats went by, and by the end of it you would see bags full of candy! Like halloween in the US.
One of our friends said, " On the Thursday you feel strange about leaving the house in your costume, but by Wednesday you feel strange leaving your house without your costume!" I think this sums it up perfectly!
Our Harry Potter themed costumes
The aftermath of ... ALL... THAT... CANDY!!!
The 11.11 is a celebratory day, and then the days leading up to Ash wednesday are as well. Starting officially on the Thursday before and I believe officially ending the Tuesday. With a huge parade on the Monday - Rosenmontag.
We celebrated on 11.11, and also two days during the "official" carnival weekend. Its pretty interesting. As an outsider looking in, you would probably say, it looks like a huge party, an excuse to drink and dress up. But having spent the time with some locals, it is definitely more than that.
Yes of course there is a party, but it is also a big cultural pride thing, especially pride of their city, and expressing that through songs. The songs are a big part of the celebrations, and learning the songs gives you a lot more insight into the traditions of the whole thing. People in Cologne are very proud of their city, and from what I saw, Carnival is a big way for them to help to display that love of their city.
You dress up and hit the streets, if you are lucky you get invited to a local party. But people everywhere are so open during this time, you end up with random conversations in trams, at the bus station, etc.
The highlight for me was definitely the big parade on the monday, there were so many people out, yet it didn't feel unsafe. People would yell for sweets and flowers as the floats went by, and by the end of it you would see bags full of candy! Like halloween in the US.
One of our friends said, " On the Thursday you feel strange about leaving the house in your costume, but by Wednesday you feel strange leaving your house without your costume!" I think this sums it up perfectly!
Our Harry Potter themed costumes
The aftermath of ... ALL... THAT... CANDY!!!
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