They still exist, the unicorns, the pirates, the clowns, the witches, princesses and ladybugs. In bright sunshine, they buzzed out through downtown Munich: On Shrove Monday, many took out of the carnival boxes what had remained mothballed in there during the pandemic for the past three years. Those were just the first splashes of color, because Shrove Tuesday with the “Dance of the Market Women” on the Viktualienmarkt is considered the Munich highlight of the so-called foolish season.
Some find it difficult to celebrate, it’s similar to the discussion of whether the Oktoberfest should take place or not. War, Corona, energy crisis – and then there is the fact that people think a little more than before about clichéd disguises and costumes that others could possibly degrade, keyword cultural appropriation. In some day-care centers, little knights are now only allowed to show the plastic sword briefly before they have to hand it in at the cloakroom, keyword weaponry.
But enough with the heavy thoughts: The good mood of the costumed on Munich’s streets and squares did not dampen. The news also came that the Bund Deutscher Karneval (which really exists) is currently revising its ethics charter in order to clarify all open questions about correct costumes. These are reassuring prospects in these turbulent days.
For his carnival premiere, Raihan Barakat (centre) relies on tradition: he came as a clown. “I’m so excited,” says the 21-year-old. There is no such thing as carnival in his home country of Indonesia. Colleague Annette Dziurla (right), disguised as a flamingo, took him to Marienplatz. In any case, Barakat is enthusiastic about the carnival: “I think it’s great. You can really look forward to it.”
After the “bad” Corona times, Chang Broszio (left) and her daughter just want to have fun again. So it became her pilot costume, her daughter dressed up as a cat – because she likes cats. By the way, the fairing comes from the Netherlands. The choice is bigger there.
Again and again he is asked if he is from the movie “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. Because of the cylinder, of course. Tilo Knoll wears a steampunk outfit. He sees himself a bit as the devil on earth. After eight years, the 47-year-old has overcome depression and thus his “personal hell”. Life is just a struggle for survival.
Even as a little girl, Indians were her role model. That hasn’t changed for Laura Giltner to this day. She can’t understand the whole discussion about cultural appropriation. “I think it’s exaggerated. I don’t walk around with it all the time.” On the contrary: the 40-year-old explicitly wants her disguise to be understood as a sign against racism.
Carnival also means that you can leave your own identity for a short time. Just like the four gardeners Irmi, Geli, Conny and Anette (from left). With their outfit, they could also pass as a Green election campaign team. Admittedly, Conny admits that they are “green touches”.