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29 January 2019 / 37 Comments

Carnival in Germany - a colourful celebration

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Did you know that carnival is celebrated in Germany for several months every year? If there's one thing we think we're not good at in Sweden, it's colourful festivals. Sometimes we have thought that you have to go down to southern Europe for the carnival atmosphere, but travelling to Germany can actually be enough!

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Co-operation with German
Tourist office

For 2019, we have started a collaboration with the German Tourist Board, which we are really happy about! In the past, we often saw Germany as a country that you just travel to. through, but more recently we have begun to realise that Germany has a lot to offer, not least when travelling by motorhome. In addition to all the nature and culture, the Germans are basically best on the issue of car parks.

So what about the co-operation? It will entail a number of different things during the year, but among other things it means that we will be able to regularly present current and relevant information about what is going on in Germany. The idea is that we will be able to give tips on what is going on - in good time for those who want to plan a trip. We start by writing about the German carnivals!

Moseldalen
Last summer we experienced the amazing Moselle Valley in Germany.

What is Carnival in Germany?

During the Carnival period, also known as the fifth season, there are state of emergency in Germany. You can see crazy carnival trains everywhere and just about everyone, both children and adults, celebrate in the streets in colourful costumes. We've never experienced a carnival like this in Germany, but happened to experience a similar, but perhaps smaller, one in Belgium many years ago. Such a great atmosphere!

Carnival in Cologne, © NRW - Tourismus Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. / Oliver Franke

The tradition of celebrating carnival dates back to the Middle Ages, and probably has its roots in Roman Catholic Christianity. In preparation for the upcoming Easter fast, which included a ban on eating meat, people simply took the opportunity to celebrate heavily. Today, carnivals are no longer associated with religion in that clear-cut way - but they still celebrate!

Carnival in Cologne, © KölnTourismus GmbH /Dieter Jacobi

Carnival, Fasching or Fastnacht

If you have been in Germany at this time, you may have come across not only the word Karnevel, but also Fasching or Fastnacht. This is the name of similar festivities celebrated in the southern parts of the country. The basis of the celebration is the same, but the dates may be slightly different, and in the south it is also common to dress up in wooden masks representing, for example, witches, devils, animals or jesters.

Carnival in Cologne, NRW - Tourismus Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. / Oliver Franke

When is Carnival celebrated in Germany?

The carnival always starts on 11 November at 11:11, taking a break during Christmas, resuming in January and culminating in spring. "Aschermittwoch" (Ash Wednesday, this year on 6 March) is the last day of Carnival. Some special dates to keep in mind if you want to plan a trip and brighten up February and March:

  • Mardi Gras (28 February 2019) - the Dirty Thursday, when the carnival's climax starts
  • Rose Monday (04 March 2019) - Rose Monday is the highlight of the carnival season
  • Shrove Tuesday (05 March 2019) - fat day, which is also an important day during the carnival.
Carnival in Cologne, © Hotel Ernst

Where is the best place in Germany to celebrate carnival?

  • CologneFor the absolute best carnival atmosphere, head to Cologne on Rose Monday. Here you can expect to see around 11,000 people in the carnival procession, including over a thousand musicians and quite a few riders. In the pubs, people are drinking 'Kölsch' (a light beer from Cologne) and spirits are high. In Cologne they say Kölle Alaaf!
  • DusseldorfDusseldorf doesn't seem to spare any effort either, with carnival processions taking place almost every day in early March. Dusseldorf also organises something called "the longest bar in the world" - everyone can join in the celebrations!
  • AachenThe city of Aachen, located on the border with the Netherlands and Belgium, celebrates with a carnival and various events.
  • MainzThe city of Mainz, near Frankfurt am Main, is famous for its big train on Rose Monday. The carnival train has existed since 1838 and has about 9500 participants and 500 000 spectators every year.
Cologne, © German Centre for Tourism e.V. / Francesco Carovillano

Nature, history ... and wine

While you're in the western parts of Germany, you might want to take the opportunity to see and experience a bit more of the country.

  • Eifel National Park offers large beech forests, mighty oak forests and rich wildlife.
  • Aachen Cathedral is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
  • Vineyards in the Rhine Valley is suitable for those who want to enjoy both good wine and beautiful surroundings.
  • City of Mainz also seems to be interesting with old buildings, stories about the black arts and also fine wines.
The cathedral in Aachen, © German National Tourist Board / Travel Collection/Lookphotos

Have you ever experienced carnival in Germany? Tell us about it!

All our top tips about Germany. Click on the image!

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29 January 2019 6:00
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  1. Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

    We had no idea that there were such great carnivals in Germany.
    However, we have visited Cologne as our friends we met in South Africa live a few miles away. Then we went on a pub tour and tried different breweries, including Kölsch.
    The Eifel was visited on our motorhome trip last spring. We did a half-day hike around three crater lakes. Very beautiful nature. We also stayed a few days in the Rhine Valley.
    As you say, Germany has a lot to offer, but it's also a country we've often used as a transit country. We intend to change that a bit in the future.

    29 January 2019 - 6:39

    Reply

  2. Deciree says:

    Wow so cool with karnevaler☺️ We have been to the Mosel several times and a little in the Rhine Valley but unfortunately you mostly drive through to other places you want to go to and to even more heat ... Germany is fantastic and I have a thick book from Germany that I would like to visit a lot of places. Hugs

    29 January 2019 - 7:21

    Reply

    • Comment by post author

      Helena says:

      Sometimes it is the heat that attracts, I recognise that! Although last summer, when it was 38 degrees in France, I would have liked to move a little north, haha 😉 Glad we have a little left to see in Germany! 🙂

      29 January 2019 - 12:58

      Reply

      • Deciree says:

        Well, not 38 degrees I want, but a little heat ? You are so welcome to join us whenever you want ? Germany really draws ?☺️

        31 January 2019 - 6:45

        Reply

  3. Liniz Travel says:

    Oh how exciting 🙂 I also want to see more of Germany 🙂 .

    Hugs

    29 January 2019 - 9:17

    Reply

  4. Ama de casa says:

    I had no idea that Germany was such a carnival country! I have to say that I like their start time - I love it when it's like 11:11 or 22:22 and I'm a bit obsessed with those number combinations.
    Starting on 11 November makes the combination even more cheeky, but I think they have their carnivals at the wrong time of year here in the northern hemisphere. It works well in February in Rio, for example, but here it's freezing cold. I have many times felt sorry for the scantily clad people (mostly girls) in a carnival train that never leaves on time.
    I realise that it probably has those religious reasons, but it would be nicer for everyone (and especially warmer!) if they could have those carnivals in the summer months here in the northern hemisphere 🙂 ).

    29 January 2019 - 9:27

    Reply

    • Comment by post author

      Helena says:

      Ah, I think I remember seeing some such number combinations on your page ...! 😉 I have also thought about the clothes (well, especially women's) during some carnivals ...! Maybe we can hope that they have a little more dressy festival costumes in Germany 😉.

      29 January 2019 - 13:00

      Reply

  5. Solan says:

    Have had the newsletter from the German Tourist Board for many years for tips?
    We service the motorhome in the south and always look forward to the asparagus season when we roll home from winter storage... We go for the spa & asparagus!?
    Carnivals are just like that...easily overdosed with happy antics in Spain. Yep.

    29 January 2019 - 9:34

    Reply

  6. Ann says:

    Oh how fun that there are so many carnivals, I really had no idea about that!

    29 January 2019 - 10:32

    Reply

  7. Ruth in Virginia says:

    1918, 11 November at 11:11 is considered the end of WWI,
    so you can understand why the Germans are celebrating.
    Here the day is celebrated not with carnivals but as 'Veterans Day',
    when we honour all those who have fallen in war.

    29 January 2019 - 11:18

    Reply

  8. JoY says:

    Germany certainly has a lot to offer. I did not know that there was such a celebration in Germany. Jakob, on the other hand, knew about it and the date, and it is the same in Switzerland, a big celebration. In Austria they have Fashing in the ski slopes.
    It would be great to be part of the celebrations.
    Hugs

    29 January 2019 - 12:26

    Reply

  9. Maria / Magnolia Magis says:

    No, we did not know about the carnivals in Germany! However, the carnival in Viareggio, Italy which is coming up in February... There are special schools where they make carnival train cars for this month! ( Information about this year's festival: http://viareggio.ilcarnevale.com/files/carnevale-di-viareggio-2019-eng.pdf )

    29 January 2019 - 16:07

    Reply

  10. Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

    There's still a lot to discover in Germany. Have never been at carnival times there. We have not been much in the eastern part of the country that attracts us.

    29 January 2019 - 17:03

    Reply

  11. Across the board says:

    But what fun! I had no idea about this. Maybe you can pinpoint something on the way home in the spring?

    29 January 2019 - 17:57

    Reply

  12. World by Tina says:

    Wow, sounds absolutely crazy fun. Had no idea! May plan for next year, Karnival in Germany. Thanks for the tips!

    29 January 2019 - 18:59

    Reply

  13. BP says:

    Congratulations on the cooperation with the German tourist office!
    Have actually experienced the carnival parade in Cologne, which is the largest in Germany. It's really fun and there is no equivalent in Sweden. Maybe the Pride parade, but it has a different purpose.
    Then I can add that it is women who dress up on Weiberfastnacht and that nine months later the most children are born in Germany.
    Rose Monday is a red day in all regions where Carnival is celebrated. On this day the parades take place.

    Mainz is perhaps not so much known for its parade but for a 'parody session' at the castle that lasts for several hours and is always shown on television. Kind of like stand-up comedy, but much bigger.

    29 January 2019 - 20:13

    Reply

  14. Reiselinda says:

    Yes, I know about Fasching. You can watch the news from Cologne every year during the carnival!
    When I lived in Potsdam, I had corridor neighbours from Bonn/Cologne who made sure we had a carnival in the corridor. Then a group of us went to Berlin to a restaurant that opened so that everyone from the West would have a place to go when the capital moved to Berlin. A huge carnival was organised there and as I remember it was fun! 😀
    Lately, I've been travelling to Nassau (a small town in Germany) for work at carnival time and have seen all sorts of things on the streets on my way to and from hotels and restaurants....
    The Germans know how to celebrate!

    29 January 2019 - 20:33

    Reply

  15. Beppan says:

    I've been lucky enough to attend various wine and food festivals in southern Germany a few times. Along the Mosel there are a lot of such events during the year - but mostly before and after the wine harvest of course... Also in other places of course. Usually nice and easy-going events. The only thing we have booked in that way is the sausage festival in Bad Dürkheim to my sausage-loving husband's great joy 🙂.

    29 January 2019 - 21:45

    Reply

  16. Lena in Wales says:

    I have spent a lot of time in Germany, but have not experienced carnivals there. However, I have experienced it in Holland and it is an eternal party, fun in the beginning.
    It's great that you are co-operating with Germany, there is so much to experience and see there.

    30 January 2019 - 10:53

    Reply

    • Comment by post author

      Helena says:

      We used to travel mostly through Germany, but it's time to start discovering Germany a little more now, we thought. We travelled a lot in Germany last summer, and it feels like there is so much to see and discover. Yes, great fun with the collaboration!

      27 February 2019 - 8:16

      Reply

  17. Maria's Memoirs says:

    Sounds cool with these carnivals. and I like everything colourful! I haven't happened to be in Germany when any carnival was going on unfortunately.

    30 January 2019 - 18:38

    Reply

  18. Lena - good for the soul says:

    I love that kind of atmosphere. I have never been to a carnival in Germany. Of course I know about it, but I didn't realise it was such an extremely long period.

    In 1988 there was a carnival in Uppsala, when I was expecting my eldest son. There was a group of us in the train. We had a giant whale (a covered truck) pulling a South Sea island (a covered cart). We were dressed as inhabitants of a South Sea island. I, heavily pregnant, was the chief and had to sit on the island while the others danced around the cart. Haha, those were the times 🙂

    Hug Lena

    31 January 2019 - 5:57

    Reply

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