Shrovetide
Carnival like in Venice – fairytale costumes in Hamburg
Disguised carnival fans have many curious spectators on the Binnenalster in Hamburg. photo
© Georg Wendt/dpa
A touch of Venice is in the air. Harlequins, people on stilts, men and women in elaborate costumes and masks stroll in Hamburg, delighting numerous onlookers.
Cavaliers with magnificent capes, ladies in crinolines and mythical creatures in fantasy costumes: a touch of Visitors were able to experience Venice at the “Mask Magic on the Alster” in Hamburg. Dozens of colorfully costumed people strolled along the colonnades and along the Alster. They posed for the numerous photographers and onlookers.
The historic Carnival in Venice (Italian: Carnevale di Venezia), with its masks, animal fights, Hercules games and fireworks, is the most famous after those in Florence and Rome. Starting from the Italian royal courts, ever more magnificent forms of carnival developed since the late Middle Ages. Generally, the feast of Epiphany (January 6) lasted until the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. The carnival now officially opens on a Sunday ten days before Ash Wednesday.
On Sunday (January 28th) the costumed people want to stroll through the Alster Arcades in downtown Hamburg between 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and through the Colonnaden from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. The big final parade is planned there at around 5 p.m.