After spending Wednesday to Friday shopping and touring Krefeld (the city where I have my German class), while Georg and I worked/studied, I'm sure that Mom was ready to experience the excitement of Karneval (as was I). In anticipation for this event, Mom had created Georg and I magnificent costumes for Christmas. Saturday morning, we drove into Köln with some Georg's family and friends to tour the Dom and the city's downtown. In the afternoon we took in a small suburb Karneval parade, in costume, where we shouted "Alaf!" to greet to floats, "Kamelle!" to request candies, and "Streussia!" for flowers. By the end of the parade, Mom and I had a huge bag of candy and a hand-full of tulips and roses. Afterwards, we had tea and cake at his Aunt's house. Everyone went to the local pub for Kölsch (Köln's beer) and dancing around 6pm (this isn't even considered early!) The younger generation traveled further into the city for crazier partying, but Georg and I called it a night around 10pm.
A quick tour of the Köln's downtown.
It's parade time!! (L to R: a crashtest dummy [Mark, cousin], Me the bear, an advertisement board [Claudia, cousin], a clown [Anni, Georg's sister], and a tomato [Lisa, family friend]).
On Sunday morning, following the typical German breakfast of buns and cheese/jam, we jumped back into our face paint and costumes for a bigger (albeit small) parade in Köln's city centre. It is tradition for family/friends to meet at the same location along the parade route every year, so that
1) friends know where to find you should they want to visit, or
2) friends in the parade can gift you flowers and special treats (large choc. bars, unique coloured roses, etc.).
This parade had over 100 floats and lasted 4 hours! Friends pulled out their accordions, drums and tambourines to jam together on the street, all ages wore costumes, there was shouting and dancing and singing the entire time... We didn't stay until the end, but the musical atmosphere and excitement of the Kölnians was addicting.
Zoo animals at the larger parade in Köln (L to R: Georg the monkey, Mark the tiger and Siobhan the dancing bear).
More of our kind....
Today is Rosen Montag (Rose Monday), the day for the Köln's largest, craziest parade. Supposedly, you must get to your standing spot on the street hours in advance and seats in the bleachers set up along the parade route must be bought months before. This is a professional parade, consisting of Karneval "groups" who have a lot of money to buy things to throw to the crowd. Needless to say, we are not attending, but are spending a quiet day at home before the work-week begins again tomorrow.
Really, the question is now...what to be next year???
...just some very small corrections: you shouted "Alaaf" (or "Kölle Alaaf") and "Strüßjer"...
ReplyDelete(and by the way: I thought that Lisa was a strawberry and not a tomato, but I didn't ask!)
I enjoyed the parade yesterday so much, that I have to stay at home today to relax (I'm feeling a cold is on its way to me... I hope it won't succeed) - but I'm already thinking about going out tonight again - Carneval will only last until ash wednesday... (and as a neighbour told me this morning: after that you have a whole year to recover again!)
Alaaf,
Claudia
Mother here....yes karneval was great fun and such incredible hosts! Siobhan and I spent the day walking yesterday in beautiful weather; Georg walked with us later in a forest (and we stepped into the Netherlands!) We ended the day with a delicious chinese dinner - loved the name of the restaurant - ???a play on words? (english of course) - the WOK IN.
ReplyDeleteLove reading your blog,
Mom