{"id":49,"date":"2009-02-28T23:56:27","date_gmt":"2009-03-01T04:56:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/?p=49"},"modified":"2017-11-13T13:38:21","modified_gmt":"2017-11-13T13:38:21","slug":"alaaf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/alaaf\/","title":{"rendered":"Alaaf?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gr\u00fc\u00df Gott,<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The end of Februar<\/span><\/strong><\/em> also marks the end of\u00a0Carnival season, a worldwide celebration that differs depending on regional traditions. Before we step into M\u00e4rz<\/span><\/strong><\/em>, allow me to share some Karneval<\/span><\/strong><\/em> facts\u00a0about Germany.\u00a0Did you know that the biggest Carnival celebration of all of Europe is held in K\u00f6ln<\/span><\/strong><\/em> (Cologne), one of Germany’s oldest cities?\u00a0<\/em>It’s true! Not only is it the largest Carnival, but it is also one of the oldest; written records have been traced back to the year 1341.<\/p>\n

The word Karneval means, “Farewell to meat” it is thought to date back to Roman and Egyptian religious celebrations. It is also believed that at some point, people paraded the streets by wearing scary masks and making lots of noise to scare away the darkness of Winter.\u00a0During the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church began to assimilate these celebrations into the Christian calendar\u00a0by making it\u00a0der letzte Festival<\/span><\/strong><\/em> before Lent. Traditionally, the culmination of Karneval ends with\u00a0various festivities (Time of celebration depends on region) that take place\u00a0sieben\u00a0Wochen<\/span><\/strong><\/em> before Easter.\u00a0During this joyful\u00a0time, many people\u00a0celebrate\u00a0by dressing up and having a good time.<\/p>\n

Carnival\u00a0season is officially\u00a0declared on November 11th at 11:11 O’Clock. But because of the Advent and Christmas season,\u00a0preparations truly begin after the new year. November 11th marks the beginning of the fifth season, it is\u00a0on that\u00a0day\u00a0that Karneval clubs all over Germany\u00a0choose ein Prinz\u00a0und eine\u00a0Prinzessin<\/span><\/strong><\/em>. It is also the day when city halls are being overtaken by jesters demanding the symbolic keys to the city.<\/p>\n

From that point on, Carnival festivities\u00a0gain in strength, with conventions and parades i.e.,\u00a0Rosenmontagz\u00fcge <\/span><\/strong><\/em>(Shrove Monday parades) and Weiberfastnacht <\/span><\/strong><\/em>(Fat Tuesday), this includes the tasting of delicious\u00a0Fastnachtkrapfen<\/span><\/strong><\/em> (a kind of donut).\u00a0On Fat Tuesday, all the nominated princes and princesses move into city halls and govern until the clock strikes midnight — When the whole event comes to a halt … that is … until the next time.<\/p>\n

In K\u00f6ln, throughout the celebrations you will hear people shout\u00a0“K\u00f6lle Alaaf!<\/em>” and\u00a0even though\u00a0you might think that this expression\u00a0relates to the Karneval season, it really does not.\u00a0In reality, it\u00a0means ” Cologne above all!”<\/p>\n

This short clip dates back to 2007, but it will give you\u00a0a <\/span>kleinen \u00dcberblick<\/strong><\/em><\/span> of the\u00a0Carnival parade in Cologne.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hSjDofLjzlU<\/a><\/p>\n

Every region celebrates this season\u00a0according to local traditions. Known as, “Die f\u00fcnfte Jahreszeit”<\/span><\/strong><\/em> the name for\u00a0Carnival varies depending on the region, or dialect.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n