The Yak Shack Forum

Today is the day......

ROSENMONTAG

that means parades over parades, raining candy, alcohol, music and "Berliner Ballen"

WHAT??? You didn't know what i mean  ;)

Karneval in Köln


It's a festival that has many names. In some places it is called Fasching, in others it is called Fastnacht  or Fassenet. In some places, including New Orleans, it is called Mardi Gras. But in Köln (Cologne) the party is known as Karneval.

In January and February, many meetings take place, with much drinking, singing, swaying arm in arm, and laughing. Folk characters tell their funny stories and sing songs. The Thursday before Ash Wednesday is known asWeiberfastnacht  (Women's carnival). On Friday and Saturday big fancy-dress balls take place. On Sunday afternoon the quarters of the city and the schools have their special street parades. The official parade on Monday is the climax of the Drei tolle Tage  (three crazy days). The parade is four to five miles long, and winds through the city with floats, horses, bands, jesters, and the Fools Guild in traditional uniforms. Dense crowds on the sidewalks laugh, drink, sing, flirt, scream, and try to catch candy raining down around them. The city is turned upside down, and business comes to a stop.

And now my question......

Do you celebrate Carneval?

Me? Not properly, no. But last Carneval I was in Delft in the Netherlands :) those guys sure know how to welcome Lent into their lives with a bang ;)

Back home in the UK? All I'll be doing is trying to dream up some interesting pancake recipes, apart from lemon and sugar (as the french do it) and bananas, honey, chocolate and milk mixed up (not sure who does that, just me probably ;)).

What about everyone else?