Cologne’s Carnival Celebrations Kick Off in Full Swing Amid Tightened Security Measures
Carnival celebrations in Germany have begun, with huge crowds of costumed revelers taking to the streets despite heightened security measures. The festivities kicked off on Thursday, marking the start of the high point of Carnival celebrations.
Carnivals have their roots in medieval Europe, where traveling fairs and festivals were held to celebrate the end of Lent.
These events featured music, dance, acrobatics, and other forms of entertainment.
Over time, carnivals spread to other parts of the world, incorporating local customs and traditions.
Today, carnivals are a popular form of entertainment, with many large-scale events held annually in cities worldwide.
In ‘We must continue to celebrate, whether it’s street festivals, carnivals or Christmas markets. It’s part of our freedom, it’s part of democracy.’ Cologne Carnival Prince René Klöver also expressed his confidence in the police’s security plans: ‘We will not be stopped from celebrating.
The festivities kicked off on Thursday, marking the start of the high point of Carnival celebrations. In ‘Nobody will succeed in intimidating us Cologne residents,’ Cologne Mayor Henriette Reker hailed the partygoers’ determination to keep celebrating in a speech delivered to loud applause from the city’s historic town hall.
The Cologne Mayor is the head of the city government in Cologne, Germany.
The officeholder serves as the chief executive of the city and is responsible for implementing policies and decisions made by the city council.
The Cologne Mayor is also responsible for maintaining public order and safety within the city limits.
According to a 2020 report, the Cologne Mayor's office has a staff of over 1,000 employees and an annual budget of approximately €1.2 billion.
The position requires a strong understanding of local politics and governance.
In Cologne and Dusseldorf, the twin Carnival capitals, the holiday takes a unique turn as women cut neckties off men and symbolically seize control of power in a celebration known as ‘Weiberfastnacht or Altweiber (roughly ‘old maids’ day’ or ‘old hags’ day’)’.
The Cologne Düsseldorf Carnival is a world-famous festival held annually in Germany, attracting millions of visitors.
The event combines colorful parades, lively music, and delicious food with a rich cultural heritage.
Dating back to the 19th century, it's one of the largest and most popular carnivals globally.
The festivities take place over several weeks, culminating in a grand finale featuring elaborate floats, costumes, and performances.
With its unique blend of tradition and modernity, the Cologne Düsseldorf Carnival is an unforgettable experience for all who attend.
This tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, when firmly entrenched gender roles would be upended for a few days during the celebrations. The Carnival kick-off in Cologne traditionally attracts many 10,000 revelers from out of town.
However, this year’s festivities are taking place under increased security precautions due to recent attacks in ‘Munich and elsewhere.’ The police have announced plans to beef up security with an extra 1,500 officers, reinforced by another 300 extra workers from the public order office and 1,200 private security staff.
The Cologne police described the security situation as ‘more tense than in previous years.’ To address these concerns, the police will set up so-called drive-over barriers to protect against attacks with cars, and carry out knife checks. A spokesman for the Dusseldorf police said that there would also be more police on the streets than in previous years.
According to Herbert Reul, the interior minister for the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, a total of 9,900 police officers will be on duty across the state on Weiberfastnacht, which is 2,500 more than on a typical Thursday. Despite these measures, numerous officials have encouraged people to put aside concerns and join the often raucous party.
Celebrating Freedom
Cologne Mayor Henriette Reker hailed the partygoers’ determination to keep celebrating in a speech delivered to loud applause from the city’s historic town hall: ‘Nobody will succeed in intimidating us Cologne residents.’ She added, ‘We won’t let terrorists or Islamists take away our sense of life. We can count ourselves lucky that we have the Fastelovend’ – using the word in local dialect for Carnival.
Cologne Carnival Prince René Klöver also expressed his confidence in the police’s security plans: ‘We will not be stopped from celebrating. We must continue to celebrate, whether it’s street festivals, carnivals or Christmas markets. It’s part of our freedom, it’s part of democracy.’
Outlandish Costumes and Good Moods
Thousands of party seekers crowded into the medieval centre of Cologne on Thursday morning to celebrate Weiberfestnacht, including many dressed in costume. ‘If you let it take away your zest for life, then you’re in such a prison that you can’t have any fun at all.’ As Petra from a Frankfurt bus tour group said, ‘The abstract risk of an attack has not deterred many revelers, with some even viewing it as a reason to celebrate freedom.
Richard and Anouk, who had come from the Netherlands for the second time, were among those celebrating. They expressed their enthusiasm for the festivities, saying that everyone was friendly and that they felt safe.
