The Cologne Carnival is one of the oldest, funniest and most opulent carnivals on the Rhine. Only the Munich or Bonn carnivals can compare with it. In 1934, this festival celebrated the seven hundredth anniversary of its existence in the culture of the region. Before the carnival, various games and fun dedicated to Maslenitsa were held here. In the Middle Ages, the rich Rhine governors held various receptions in their palaces, where butter and curd products were served. They considered it unworthy to go out into the street. Later, such holidays were also held in craft shops, later it grew into a Cologne tradition. Now the festival is being organized by special committees that choose costumes, write scripts, etc.

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Carnival time comes immediately after Epiphany (in Germany, Epiphanias, Erscheinung des Herrn, Heiligedreikönigstag), that is, after January 6th. But since the 19th century, another date has been sounding louder and louder: November 11th. This is a kind of return to the times of the first Christians, who kept a forty-day fast not only before Easter, but also before Christmas, and on November 11, the day of St. Martin, when it was supposed to eat goose meat, was the last fast day before this post.
In Cologne, the Carnival is officially opened “on the eleventh of the eleventh at eleven-eleven”. That is, on November 11 at 11 hours 11 minutes (well, for accuracy, 11 seconds).
However, the apotheosis of Carnival is its last week, that is, as a rule, the end of winter. “Disgracefulness” begins on “Woman Thursday”, when women do God knows what: bully passers-by, shout on the streets, paint dusty or snow-covered cars on roadsides and parking lots with their fingers. Schoolgirls, armed with scissors, cut off the ties of the teachers (and they prudently put on paper ties that day). Carnival custom of female hooliganism! He is also supported by quite respectable ladies who would never have allowed themselves this at any other time.
From “Indian Thursday” mass street processions begin and go on increasing. The most grandiose carnival processions are held on Pink Monday.

The streets of the city are filled with many traditional Cologne carnival masks, most of which have their roots in the Middle Ages. Among the actors are deities, and jesters, and dragons. Today, Vikings, pets, various fruits and vegetables, etc. have been added to the collection of masks. The characters participating in the procession fill the pubs and restaurants. On weekends there are staged battles of spirits and costumed processions of youth. The carnival reaches its peak on Pink, or Mad Monday.

This breathtaking spectacle is watched by all the inhabitants of the city. A magnificent procession passes through the streets of the city. Among the expositions are huge sailing ships, political cartoons, ancient heroes. All compositions are equipped with moving platforms, followed by a brass band. The procession is led by the Carnival Prince, the Peasant and the Virgin.