The Cologne carnival is a carnival that takes place every year in Cologne, Germany. Traditionally, the "fifth season" (carnival season) is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of November. The Carnival spirit is then temporarily suspended during the Advent and Christmas period, and picks up again in earnest in the New Year. The time of merrymaking in the streets is officially declared open at downtown square Alter Markt on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent. Street carnival, a week-long street festival, also called "the crazy days", takes places between the Thursday (Women’s Carnival Day) before Rose Monday and ends on Ash Wednesday. All through these days, "kölsch" folks go out masqueraded. The highlight of the carnival is Rosenmontag, which takes place on the Monday. The typical greeting during the festival is "Kölle Alaaf!", a Kölsch phrase which can be roughly translated as "Long live Cologne!"
Every year there are 3 people (the Dreigestirn) who are granted the titles of Jungfrau, Prinz, and Bauer (virgin, prince and farmer), who pay a large sum of money for their privileges. The carnival prince is deemed to be the highest representative of the festivities, leading the main parades throughout the week. Traditionally, the Jungfrau "Virgin" is always portrayed by a man dressed as a Female.
The official carnival with its parades and stage shows (Sitzungen) is run by the Festkomitee Kölner Karneval (Cologne Carnival Celebration Committee), which was founded in 1823. Alongside there are many autonomous carnival events throughout the city's bars, clubs and local communities, including "Stunksitzung", a leftist comedy show caricaturing official carnivalSitzungen in style and poking fun at both traditional, conservative carnival as well as politics.
As there have been continuously more than one million spectators on the streets for the Rose Monday parade every year [1] Cologne carnival is one of the largest street festivals in Europe.
[edit]German carnival singers and bands
Alt-Schuss, Bernd Stelter, Bläck Fööss, Brings, Colör, Dä Radschläger, De Fätzer, De Höhner, Die 3 Colonias, De Kläävbotze, De Klüngelköpp, Kolibris, Marie Luise Nikuta, Paveier, Paraplüs, Rabaue, De Räuber, Die Rheinländer, Schmackes Royal, Schmitti, De Vajabunde, Köbes Underground.
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