In Germany the most famous carnival is the Renano, which is celebrated between the cities of Cologne and Düsseldorf, where the Karneval has earned its own time frame, so much to conquer the name of "Quinta Season". In fact, the festivities, which every year officially begin on November 11, culminate with the parades in mask and the procession of Monday of the Roses (Rosenmontag) the following year.
Cologne is famous in the world for the carnival, among the most lively and festive in Europe. The city celebrates every year its "Quinta Season" with dances, parties and goliardie: many companies and schools close a few days in the carnival week, and among the inhabitants live traditions and even a special language. The important thing, however, is to disguise: the most appreciated masks are the most original and colorful.
The Carnival Thursday is called "The Carnival of Women", which go to work dressed in mask, and, in the center, they find themselves in the square of the Old Market (Alter Markt), where, at 11.11, carnival celebrations are officially opened by the three figures of the Prince, the Virgin and the Peasant. During the evening there are parties and masked dances.
The Saturday is the day dedicated to the redcoats, which after the Friday evening parties meet at 10.30 for the "Fr.hshoppen", that is the first toast of the morning. The most spectacular moment of the Carnival of Bologna is the "Monday of the Roses", when a parade of wagons and masks six kilometers long parade through the city, between music and dances, followed by hundreds of thousands of people who pour into the streets of the city.
From the spectacular wagons are launched sweets and flowers: it has been calculated that, every year, about 140 tons of candy are thrown to the public, 700.000 chocolate bars, 220.000 chocolate boxes and 300,000 bouquets of flowers. A very appreciated tradition of the Carnival of Cologne is the "Bützje": a kiss on the cheek that is usually asked by men to the ladies, which is not the beginning of a courtship, but an absolutely common behavior during the "Quinta Season".
Faithful to the spirit of the Rhine Carnival, also to Düsseldorf the most crazy days of the year – from the "Women's Carnival" to Ash Wednesday – are a continuous succession of masked dances, parties and masked parades. The Thursday (this year the 27 February) the city will be in the hands of Möhnen – how are women called – for Weiberfasnacht (Carnival of Women, in German): the ladies, at 11.11, take over the town hall and, for once a year, exercise power. Along the streets of the center groups in costume sing and have fun. Many women have with them a couple of scissors, to cut – as custom wants – the tie to men, who are consoled receiving in return a kiss, the so-called Bützchen. In the premises, then, it is celebrated until late evening.
The Saturday is dedicated to the processions of the smallest masked clothes, while the Sunday families, young and old parade in costume along the Königsallee, the most elegant street in Düsseldorf, for a day in the hands of the madmen. The true culmination of the Rhine Carnival is, however, Rosenmontagszug, i.e. the parade on Monday of the Roses (this year on 3 March): from the periphery to the centre there are beautiful and imposing wagons, between music and dances, and in the city almost a million people come to participate in the great show.
From wagons, the most varied masks throw sweets and candies to children, who claim them loudly. The little ones – and not only them – always come home with huge stocks of sweets. The parade extends from late morning until evening, when it is time for the last celebrations. To the excesses of the Carnival ends the Wednesday of ashes (this year the 5 March), when the funeral for the madman is set up Hoppeditz. Fools will have to wait a long year before they return to celebrate and hold the city.
