City of Cologne: Carnival

Copyright KölnTourismus GmbH / Dieter Jacobi

“Kölle Alaaf”: that’s the “war-cry”, and the “fifth season” is the lifeblood of every real Kölner. From “Weiberfastnacht”, i.e. Women’s Carnival on the previous Thursday, to Shrove Tuesday everyone is equal and joins in to sway to the music. Be it in the “Altstadt” or Old Town, the “Südstadt” south town or on the Ring: everywhere costumed carnival revellers can be seen roaming the streets. Anyone lucky enough to get a seat in one of the numerous bars definitely won’t leave again. After all, what more could anyone want than a fresh Kölsch beer and a “lecker Mädchen”, a pretty girl, on your arm? Of course there are plenty of “lecker” boys, too. It is tradition for people to give their carnival sweetheart a bunch of flowers they caught at the Rose Monday procession or at the “Veedelszoch” the day before.