Carnival in Germany
Description:
Preparations for the carnival, like everything in Germany, begin in advance, in November. 11.11 at 11:11 am, the first meetings of carnival activists are held throughout the country and the beginning of the 5th season - the carnival is officially announced. On this day for the first time you can meet people in carnival costumes.
Carnival is celebrated in the Catholic regions of Germany. Carnivals in Munich and Cologne are known all over the world.
There is handwritten evidence of the celebration of the carnival in Munich in 1295. Why not after a dull winter, when almost no work is possible, have a fun holiday before the harsh Lent begins, and then the heavy summer worries.
Modern people also need a short break from worries. Therefore, Munich, the center of culture, science and politics, for a while turns into a place of entertainment and jokes. Wine, women, fun - what could be more wonderful?
Weiberfastnacht is celebrated on a Thursday in February only by women. They dress up as witches, fairshops, damn. Men, entering this day in a restaurant, risk going out there without clothes – so can joke cheerful women.
The main event of the holiday is considered Rosenmontag (translated as a frenetic magnificent Monday) – the February carnival procession. It resembles a demonstration: traffic is blocked and dressed clowns, princesses, kings, barons, all kinds of orchestras, girls, despite the weather, dressed in short carnival dresses, go along the central streets of the city for several hours in a row. Everyone sings, shouts greetings, throws confetti, candy into the crowd, distributes beer and wine cups. The procession ends somewhere in a large square of the city with greetings and a concert.
The next day, on Tuesday, the children wear costumes, and in the morning they just come dressed up to school. Immediately after school, they will go home (modern little carnivalists go shopping), where they are already waiting with sweets and small souvenirs.
In shops and bakeries on this day are sold donuts with a bouquet "Berliner", among which can meet "happy" with mustard or a coin, who is lucky.
The holiday ends on Wednesday, Aschermittwoch. The name “ash environment” speaks for itself: a headache from the hangover of especially active carnivalists.
The next day, Thursday, begins "Fastnacht" - a strict Lent that ends in 40 days Easter.