carnival
Pomp or distance: Carnival in Germany is in its final stages
A group of people in costumes are out and about in Cologne. The carnival season in Germany is back in full swing. photo
© Henning Kaiser/dpa
No matter whether you love or hate carnival, carnival and carnival: you will want to experience it or ignore it. At the weekend – just before the session climax – there was a lot going on again.
The crazy finale begins in less than a week. The number of events around Carnival, carnival and carnival are increasing, and this weekend there were also prominent highlights of the fifth season – such as the “Fasnacht in Franconia” on Friday evening, which was quite popular on TV. An overview – for passionate fools, interested observers and also for all those who want to escape the hustle and bustle:
Please with a message!
The costumes are supposed to be fun. But they are often more than just that, as was once again shown by some politicians who wanted to send a message with their costumes.
Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder presented himself as the stern-looking Reich Chancellor Bismarck at the ceremonial meeting of the Franconian carnival in Veitshöchheim on Friday evening. Franz Josef Strauss once said that Bavaria must be the last Prussians “in difficult times,” said CSU politician Söder. Bavaria’s Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters) wanted to set an example for the craft as a bricklayer. “Germany has to put a few stones together again,” he said.
And NRW Prime Minister Henrik Wüst (CDU) was what his opposition likes to see in him: an “Insta President”. He appeared with a large Instagram frame at the TV recording of the ARD television meeting in Cologne. “Carnival wouldn’t be half as nice and happy if you couldn’t laugh at yourself a little,” says Wüst.
Looking for a last minute costume
Who is still looking for inspiration but doesn’t want to be a politician with a message? Katharina Schulze, the Green party leader in the Bavarian state parliament, appeared in Franconia on Friday evening in perhaps the trendiest costume of the year: as a Barbie with blonde curls with a pink handbag.
The German Carnival Academy in Kitzingen, Lower Franconia, advises designing carnival costumes in an environmentally conscious manner. Many costumes could be made from materials that are either degradable or would otherwise be thrown away. Tip from academy director Romana Wahner: For example, make shimmering silver knight costumes out of old milk cartons. Viking helmets are made from cardboard boxes, dresses and wigs are made from newspapers, and natural materials such as dried flowers decorate colorful hats.
Better to watch from home
If you don’t want to rush into the hustle and bustle and would rather watch Carnival in front of the TV: On Friday evening, WDR recorded the second round of its traditional costume session. The compilation will be broadcast on Rose Monday (February 12th, 8:15 p.m.) on Erste. The Cologne bands Bläck Fööss, Brings and Kasalla as well as Bernd Stelter and Guido Cantz performed in front of 1,300 guests each.
The live broadcast “Fasnacht in Franconia 2024” was already seen by 3.5 million viewers on Friday evening. There should be repeats this Saturday (8:15 p.m.) and on February 13th (12:30 p.m.) on BR and in the media library for streaming.
The awarding of the order “Against animal seriousness 2024” from Aachen last week should be shown on Das Erste this Saturday evening (8:15 p.m.).
Don’t feel like it at all?
Meanwhile, Germany’s coastal towns are courting everyone who is disinterested and those who want to temporarily leave carnival strongholds. “If you want to escape the madness or simply experience wellness and relaxation in the fifth season, you have come to the right place in the real north,” says the Schleswig-Holstein tourism agency.
“There are actually a lot of short vacationers who want to escape the hustle and bustle, especially from the carnival strongholds in North Rhine-Westphalia,” said Inga Graber, marketing manager at Norddeicher Tourismus-Service. But the special program also specifically attracts people. Manfred Wohnrade from the Grömitz Tourism Service gives concrete figures: “From February 10th to 17th we have an occupancy rate of around 60 to 65 percent.” This is an increase of 20 percent compared to other February weekends.
Celebrate and donate blood
It’s February – many are sick or celebrating carnival. That’s why some blood donation services fear the coming weeks. The stocks at the DRK blood donation service West are already worryingly low. For a particularly important blood group, it is no longer possible to fully supply the hospitals in North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, said spokesman Stephan David Küpper.
“At best, gaps in supply should not arise in the first place – that is why the DRK blood donation service is calling on people to donate blood now,” said Küpper.