Origin of Mardi Gras: Why is Mardi Gras celebrated?
When it says “Alaaf!” or “Helau!”, the foolish hustle and bustle has started again. Carnival, also known as Mardi Gras, Fastnacht or the fifth season, determines everyday life in the strongholds. There is a state of emergency. But why do we celebrate carnival at all? How did it happen that thousands and thousands of people dress up year after year, take to the streets, sing merrily songs and catch camels?
Kick-off for the carnival season
It starts every year on 11.11 at 11.11 a.m.! The fifth season is heralded. The carnival season opens and that means that the first preparations for the street carnival begin and the royal couple is officially introduced. Exactly at this time the fools then take the scepter in their hands and pop the corks. But why are you celebrating a fool’s festival in the middle of the dark winter and suddenly singing songs like “The Caravan Moves On”? Shouldn’t we rather take care of Christmas presents, bake cookies for the family and think about which Christmas menu we can serve to our dear parents-in-law? What is this day about? Many theories have emerged about this over time. So one of them comes from the Christian church and says that the foolish number 11 represents the symbol of sin. On the one hand it exceeds the number of the 10 commandments and on the other hand it falls below the number of the 12 disciples. The number 11 thus expresses that the fool is outside of religious norms during the carnival season. Another theory says that this day heralds the pre-Christmas period of Lent, because from 11.11. It’s exactly 40 days to the beginning of winter, which is close to Christmas. that with this day the pre-Christmas Lent is heralded, because from 11.11. It’s exactly 40 days to the beginning of winter, which is close to Christmas. that with this day the pre-Christmas Lent is heralded, because from 11.11. It’s exactly 40 days to the beginning of winter, which is close to Christmas.
The carnival week
The highlight of the carnival is clearly the carnival week, i.e. the time from women’s carnival to Shrove Monday to Ash Wednesday. During this period, there is a state of emergency, especially in the Rhineland, in Hesse and especially in the carnival strongholds there such as Cologne, Düsseldorf or Mainz. People dress up, party wildly and visit carnival processions where you can catch the famous camels. Behind the carnival celebrations is a long-cherished custom that has endured for centuries. The old Teutons used to wear ugly faces and masks to drive away the evil spirits and powers of winter on the one hand and to greet spring and its spirits of growth on the other. Carnival is the festival where you can let off steam, before immediately following the 40-day Lent period leading up to Easter, and abstaining from things like meat, sweets, or other vices. Hence the name Carnival, which comes from the Latin word “Carne vale!” comes from, which means “Meat, farewell!” means. Carnival is a colorful time that you can make really fun with your family. Here you can read about the importance of the individual days within the carnival week.
Women’s Shrovetide
This day is also known in some places as Old Women’s Carnival, Fat Thursday or “Dirty Thursday”. It is something of an unofficial holiday in all carnival regions in Germany. From 11:11 a.m., people stop working and celebrate. In many towns, the carnival on Weiberfastnacht also begins with the so-called town hall storm, during which the fools storm the town hall, “arrest” the mayor and have the mayor hand them over the key. As a rule, there are no carnival parades on Weiberfastnacht. Instead, people celebrate in costume on the streets or in bars. In addition, on this day the women take over the “power”. The men’s ties are cut off symbolically for this. So they only walk around with a tie stump, for which they are given a Bützchen, i.e. a little kiss,
Sooty Friday
A rather quiet day, which is considered a day of remembrance of the passion of Christ. The name is only used in southern German regions. It comes from the fools trying to rub soot on people’s faces earlier that day.
Carnation Saturday
Also known as “Schmalziger Saturday” in southern Germany. The name comes from the fact that those who had blackened other people’s faces with soot the day before now had to compensate them with lards. Carnation Saturday is generally considered the quietest day of Carnival week.
Tulip Sunday
Tulip Sunday is the foolish name for the Sunday before Shrove Monday. Many carnival events take place on this day and there are various parades, especially in smaller towns. In Cologne, the famous “School and Veedelszug” takes place on Tulip Sunday, with a number of clubs and school classes taking part. A jury consisting of 40 people then awards the best groups of wagons, the best groups of feet and the most original costume idea. The prize is participation in the Shrove Monday parade.
Shrove Monday
Shrove Monday is the highlight of the street carnival. On this day, the big processions take place in the carnival strongholds. Up to 1 million spectators line the streets in Cologne alone when over 10,000 participants and around 100 floats set off.
Violet Tuesday
The last among the foolish days. Now it’s time for the revelers to say goodbye to the carnival.
Ash Wednesday
On Ash Wednesday, the foolish time is over. The name comes from the custom of drawing a cross on the forehead of the faithful using a palm branch with blessed ashes. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40-day period of Lent. This time is a reminder that Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert. Lent ends on Easter Sunday.