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Local Germany
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Local Germany
IN PICTURES: The wildest 'Rosenmontag' floats at this year's Carnival in Germany
Costume-clad revellers took to the streets in German cities to mark the end of the famous carnival season on Rosenmontag (Rose Monday). Rosenmontag, as its known in German speaking countries, is more often called Shrove Monday in English, and takes place ahead of Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent in the Christian tradition. It marks the most ecstatic celebrations in Germany's carnival season which starts months earlier on the 11th of November. Many German cities, especially those in the west side of the country, celebrate Rosenmontag with lavish parades. Düsseldorf and Cologne are both known for hosting bombastic parades filled with immaculately decorated floats. Here's a look at some of the wildest parade floats seen at the Rosenmontag parades this year: Revellers surround a float on wokeness during the parade to celebrate Rose Monday (Rosenmontag). Photo: Ina Fassbender / AFP One notable float this year anticipated the criticism some of the parade floats could be expected to receive: an eyeball labelled "wokeness" stares down a nervous-looking man wearing a hat labelled "satire". Many of the floats in Düsseldorf's parade depict politicians or recent events with sharp satire. Among the bigger targets of this year's political humour was US President Donald Trump. Trump was also joined by billionaire turned political force Elon Musk, who has been savaging US public services with cuts recently. Musk sparked controversy in Germany this year when he repeatedly weighed into the federal elections in support of the far-right AfD. Russian President Vladimir Putin was also a leading character this year, and he was seen with Trump in scenes depicting recent developments around Russia's invasion of Ukraine. A float portraying Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump forming a 'Hitler - Stalin - Pact 2.0' to squash Ukraine and its President Zelensky. Photo: Ina Fassbender / AFP Pro-Russian politicians in Germany, including Left Party defector Sahra Wagenknecht and AfD leader Alice Weidel, were also satirised in Cologne this year. The politicians were depicted on a float bearing the words, "From Moscow with love" and seen brandishing sunflowers with Putin's face on them, bursting out of a suitcase full of money. Of course, there were more than a few less-than-flattering depictions of the AfD to be seen at the carnival parades. A float portrays AfD co-leader Alice Weidel as the witch from the tale 'Hänsel and Gretel' trying to lure first voters into her house. Photo: Ina Fassbender / AFP AfD co-leader Alice Weidel was seen as the witch from the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel, trying to lure voters into her house. Meanwhile, conservative leader and soon-to-be German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was seen as a mule weighed down by a heavy pile of political burdens. A float portraying Friedrich Merz as donkey trying to pull a cart full of political problems such as 'migration', 'Trump', 'recession', 'debt-brake' and 'AfD'. Photo: Ina Fassbender / AFP Merz is currently in the process of trying to form a coalition with the centre-right SPD after his centre-right CDU/CSU alliance swept to victory in the federal elections on February 23rd. In Cologne, the right-wing politician was seen ripping through a red banner with the words "Chancellor Scholz" to turn the word Scholz into "Schmerz" - the German word for pain. Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz was also seen on a ship labelled 'Abgesoffen' (sunken), depicting his Social Democrats Party's historically low results in the recent election. While politics dominated the carnival parades in both Rhineland cities, festival-goers also enjoyed some incisive commentary on wider societal issues. In a hilarious float that many commuters in Germany will no doubt relate to, the Cologne parade featured a skeleton with flowers and chocolates waiting for a delayed train to Cologne Central Station. Commentary on the frequency of delayed trains in Germany at Cologne Carnival. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Oliver Berg The float was capitioned "Liebes Entzug" - or the revocation of love - which plays on the German word 'Zug', meaning train. Deutsche Bahn, Germany's national rail operator, has become notorious for its frequent delays and cancellations in recent years. Artificial intelligence, which has soared to prominence with tools like ChatGPT in recent years, also made an appearance at Düsseldorf's parade in the form of a robot feasting on a human brain. A float portraying an Artificial Intelligence robot feeding on a brain. Photo: Ina Fassbender / AFP According to a report by t-online, around 700,000 were estimated to have attended the parade in Düsseldorf this year. Seated with a front row view of the procession were local politicians Lord Mayor Stephan Keller (CDU), Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP) and Mona Neubaur (Greens), among others. In Cologne, meanwhile, around 12,500 people took part in the Rose Monday parades alone, with around a million people travelling to the city to witness the vibrant spectacle.
Local Germany
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Local Germany
Eight unmissable events happening in Germany in March 2025
For most people in Germany, the winter can be a bit of an endurance test. Desperately seeking a bit of warmth, you may take out a season ticket at your local sauna - or you may simply decide to hibernate until spring returns once more. But though the winter may seem long, March is the month when Germany takes a massive leap towards summer. The days get longer faster, the clocks go forward, and buds and flowers start to add colour to the landscape of grey. All of this makes March the perfect time to get out and about and rediscover your social side. Luckily, there are plenty of great events happening to help you do just that. March 3rd: Rose Monday Carnival Parades, Cologne & Düsseldorf No roundup of March events would be complete without mentioning Germany's vibrant carnival season, which bundles together a string of parades and raucous street parties in the week leading up run-up to Ash Wednesday. Though celebrations are held in several regions of Germany, the best-known carnivals undoubtedly take place in the Rhineland. On Rose Monday, or Rosenmontag, elaborate floats are paraded through the city centres of Düsseldorf and Cologne, cheered on by revellers in colourful costumes. Women gather by Cologne cathedral for carnival celebrations. Photo: picture alliance / Oliver Berg/dpa | Oliver Berg Music, performances and other festivities often kick off first thing in the morning, and parties run until late at night at pubs and other venues throughout the city. Though International Women's Day falls on a weekend this year - meaning most Berliners won't get the day off work - there's still plenty going on to mark the occasion. At the Deutsches Theater, for example, the Frauen*kampftag offers a full-day programme of events completely free of charge, starting with a boxing workshop lead by featherweight champion Nina Meinke and ending with an interactive clown show titled 'Don't Be Scared' and a party with local Berlin DJs. Mosques around the city will also open their doors to women to gather together for a breaking of the Ramadan fast at sundown (6:03pm), while a purple-themed feminist cycle demo will ride through the city from Mariannenplatz from midday. In addition, feminist and queer films will be shown as part of the Final Girls Fim Festival at City Kino Wedding from March 5th to 9th. March 14th - April 6th: Strong Beer Festival, Munich One for the beer lovers, Munich's Starkbierfest or 'Strong Beer Festival' has been celebrated by breweries in the Bavarian capital since the 15th century. And the annual event comes back to the city on March 14th. For three weeks, beer halls and breweries throughout Munich will be packed with stronger varieties of beer - both in terms of alcohol and nutritional content. The tradition goes back to a time when monks brewed strong, nourishing beers to help them survive the weeks of fasting during Lent. But just to be extra careful, make sure you enjoy some filling German food alongside your Maß. March 17th: St. Patrick's Day, Nationwide According to the latest statistics, around 35,000 Irish citizens live in Germany - but what the community lacks in size, it certainly makes up for in energy. Each year on St. Patrick's Day - which celebrates the patron saint of Ireland - you can expect to see Irish pubs around Germany decked out in a sea of bright green, with traditional folk or pop music blaring. Irish bagpipe players take part in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Munich. Photo: picture alliance / Andreas Gebert/dpa | Andreas Gebert Whether Irish or not, anyone up for a big of 'craic' (hilarious banter) and a few drinks (or more than a few) will be welcomed with good humour at these watering holes, so head on down to your nearest bar to celebrate. In Munich, a vibrant array of Irish characters - from leprechauns to medieval maidens and rugby players - will take part in a parade on Sunday, March 16th, kicking off a two-day open air festival in honour of Irish culture. March 21st - April 21st: Hamburger Frühlingsdom, Hamburg If you're itching for the start of spring festival season, be sure to head up to Hamburg from March 21st for the Frühlingsdom. From trying out a host of funfair attractions to grabbing German favourites like Pommes (fries), Bratwurst and crêpes, this spring event is sure to keep the whole family entertained. The Dom dates back to 1337 when local Hamburg merchants and others were allowed to take shelter in St Mary's Cathedral. It is now held three times a year, including in summer and winter. The event takes place in the Heiligengeistfeld in St. Pauli. March 29th & 30th: Street Food Festival, Frankfurt On its tour of German cities, the Street Food Festival is set to arrive in Frankfurt this March, with two days of fresh flavours and mouthwatering aromas filling the halls of Klassikstadt. With an entry fee of just 4 euros, you can find a stunning array of regional and international cuisine on offer, showcasing the best of Frankfurt's vibrant culinary scene. From Korean bibimbap to Venezuelan arepas, the festival is a great chance to branch out and try new things, as well as indulge in luxurious cocktails and craft beers. If you're worried about running out of room to sample the delectable dishes on offer, never fear: the festival is open each day from midday to 10pm, giving you plenty of time to build up an appetite once again after gorgeing on a hearty lunch. March 27th - 30th: Leipzig Book Fair, Leipzig Germany's Frankfurt Book Fair may be the country's most well-known, but a close runner-up takes place every March in the eastern German city of Leipzig. A children's book on display at the Leipzig Book Fair in March. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Hendrik Schmidt The Buchmesse, which dates back to 1632, features not only a diverse line-up of local titles but also those in several languages from authors all over the world. This year there is a focus on literature from Norway, with the slogan 'Spring Dreams' reflecting themes of renewal and inspiration. This year the fair is being held in conjunction with Manga-Comic-Con and 'Leipzig liest' reading festival. March 31st - April 4th: Hannover Messe, Lower Saxony When it comes to exploring the future of tech and innovation, no event quite tops the Hannover Messe. As the world's leading trade fair for industrial technology, the Messe showcases cutting-edge innovations in automation, robotics, energy solutions, and digitalisation. Each year, major tech brands descend on the capital of Lower Saxony to showcase groundbreaking products and ideas, offering a first glimpse in the technologies of the future. For professionals, there will once again be a packed roster of networking events and a conference schedule featuring industry-leading speakers.
Local Germany
26-02-2025
- Local Germany
Police pledge tightened security measures for Germany's carnival season
Carnival season is one of the most joyful times of year in Germany, where revellers take to the streets in technicolour costumes and huge parades take place on Rosenmontag in cities like Cologne and Düsseldorf. This year, however, the celebrations will be held under the shadow of a spate of recent attacks in Munich, Mannheim, Solingen, Magdeburg and Aschaffenburg. Earlier this month, a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker rammed a car into a union demonstration in Munich, killing a 37-year-old woman and her two-year-old child. In Aschaffenburg in January, a horrific attack on a nursery school also led to the death of a two-year-old child, along with a 41-year-old man who had tried to protect the children. In both cases, terrorist motives are suspected. As the last touches are being made to the parade floats and costumes, the police are also stepping up security for this year's celebrations. Along with extensive weapon and glass bans in central areas, cities and towns hosting carnivals will also see a greater number of police and other security personnel at street parties and other public gatherings. Cologne According to police operations chief Martin Lotz, the security concept in Cologne has been checked over and tightened in the wake of the recent terror attacks, and police officers have been given updated briefs. Though the situation remains "tense", Lotz emphasised that 1,500 officers would be on the streets throughout the six-day festival. Previously, Cologne police spokesperson Sascha Wallmeroth had pledged that police would have a "massive presence" at the carnival and would intervene for even minor incidents. Since the 11th of November, when carnival officially kicked off last year, a large section of the city has been subject to a weapons ban, including knives. Police will be permitted to stop and search people at random in these zones, without needing a reason for suspicion. In addition, from the start of Weibernacht on Thursday, February 27th, many parts of the city centre will be turned into a "high security area". This will primarily affect the many party area in Zülpicher Viertel. A further focus will be on protecting Cologne Synagogue, following a spike in anti-Semitic crimes. Speaking to WDR, carnival organisers also revealed that they were spending huge sums of money of security staff and paramedics this year. The festival committee has apparently spent €3.5 million on the Rosenmontag parade alone and has estimated €80,000 in additional costs if it runs over by even an hour. Once again, a ban on carrying or selling glass bottles will apply to the main carnival areas in the Old Town, in the Kwartier Latäng between Aachener Straße and Luxemburger Straße and around the Severinstorburg. Düsseldorf In the North Rhine-Westphalian capital of Düsseldorf, where around one million carnival revellers are expected, authorities have announced that the security concept has also been revised and tightened up. Extra mobile barriers will be erected in the main public areas and along the parade route, and the police are set to deploy drones and other video surveillance tools. In addition, thousands of police officers will be on patrol in the city centre and the Altstadt from Altweiber on February 27th to Rosenmontag on March 3rd, with Düsseldorf police supported by officers from Essen, Duisburg und Münster. As in Cologne, an extensive weapon and glass ban will be in place in the city centre, with checkpoints at all 16 of the entryways to the Altstadt. Police will also be supported in their work by more than 200 officials from the Ordnungsamt, who will check compliance with the safety rules. Speaking to T-Online, Police Director Thorsten Fleiß appealed directly to people not to bring knives, weapons and weapon-like items to the carnival in the first place, "so that we don't have to deal with them in these difficult times". This year, additional protection will also be provided for residents in the Carlstadt neighbourhood. The Am Horionplatz/Neusser Straße thoroughfare will only be accessible with a special transit permit, which should have already been received by residents. Other carnival cities At smaller carnival celebrations around Germany, police and festival organisers have also been adjusting their security concepts. In many cases, glass bans are in place, extra security personnel and police are on duty, and key access points to parades and other party areas are being cordoned off. "As in previous years, there are already good and established security concepts in place, which are reviewed selectively based on the current security and local situation," a spokesperson for the city of Bonn told WDR. However, police and other authorities are in close contact "so that any necessary adjustments can be made at short notice". According to Frank Prömpeler, President of the Aachen Carnival Festival Committee, new security measures are under review but a decision has already been made to block off more side streets leading to the Rose Monday parade route. Eighteen of these blockades are currently in place. In Münster, carnival organisers responded to the Christmas market attack in Magdeburg by increasing the number of access barriers planned at the event. Instead of the 40 so-called anti-terror barriers that were set up in 2024, there will be 63 this year. In some cases, tour buses will be used as anti-terror blockades. Should people be worried about terror attacks this year? Despite the understandable anxieties, the Cologne Carnival Committee has stressed that there is little reason to worry when attending the celebrations. "We are monitoring the situation very closely together with the security authorities, but do not currently see any drastic change in the security situation for the Cologne Rose Monday parade," the organisers said in a statement. On Tuesday, German tabloid Bild published a screenshot taken from an IS propaganda site, which listed Cologne Weibernacht as one of a list of potential attack targets. Al-Saif Media (Unofficial #IslamicState) releases threatening poster: "Choose Your Next Target!". Upcoming #European events are named as potential #attack sites — from #Cologne Carnival to #Rotterdam 's Festival der Liebe. #ISIS #Jihadist #Propaganda Read more:… — TRACTerrorism (@TracTerrorism) February 24, 2025 However, security circles in North Rhine-Westphalia told the regional Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger newspaper, that the posts were "deliberate scaremongering" and there had been no concrete evidence of a potential attack. This was echoed by Cologne police chief Lotz, who said IS were simply aiming to unsettle the population. Meanwhile, NRW interior minister Herbert Reul (CDU) urged people to go out and enjoy the carnival season without worrying. "Make sure you go out and celebrate in a relaxed manner," Reul said. "We mustn't let the people who threaten our society ruin our lives. That would be the greatest success they could have." With intensive preparations and security measures in place, authorities are convinced that this year's carnival season is set to be the joyful celebration it always is.
