Karneval

Yesterday morning, as Daisy and I were hustling off to music class, we crossed paths with our downstairs neighbor, Herr Pieper. Although it is impossible to imagine calling someone "Mr." anything for over two years back in the US, it will always and forever be Herr Pieper for us. Which means that when I accidentally offered to help with a "Brauchst du Hilfe?", I quickly realized my casual/familiar "du" misstep and corrected myself with a self-effacing slap on the forehead: "Entschuldigung, Sie sind kein 'du!'"  Herr Pieper faintly chuckled, paused, and then suggested, "Ach...Es ist Karneval."

It is Karneval, the celebrations leading up to Lent. If I had to sum up the German "Mardi Gras" for Americans, I would say that it also has a parade - on Monday, not Tuesday - and it is a blend of 1) Halloween (costumes, for all ages) 2) Partying for adults (sort of like New Year's Eve or St. Patrick's Day) 3) Punk behavior (kids in costume tripping adults walking by....or disrespecting elderly neighbors by calling them "du") 4) The particular German tendency to stretch out holidays over several days (Think Christmas markets beginning in November and the trickling flow of singing children at the door the whole week of St. Martin's Day.) Even at the beginning of February, groups in costume appeared in Cologne, singing silly songs in the train station. Daisy's school group on Wednesday did face painting and got out dress up clothes for those kids not already dressed up. Yesterday, there was music and beer tents and a marching band downtown. Every child at the elementary school we walked by today was in costume. We've been advised to avoid the trains this weekend. Everything will return to normal on Ash Wednesday next week.

On Monday, I will dress up Daisy and attend some parties at friends' houses. Midday, there's a parade through the city, which actually begins right outside our apartment. Here are some pictures I took last year (which was snowy February) and never posted.

Setting up the floats for the parade
(Taken from our bedroom window)

The Karneval court bestowing medals
(Also from our window...tram lines)

One of the floats

The floats, manned by various groups in the city, aren't elaborately decorated. People on the ground shout "Helau!" and gather the candy and toys tossed out by the people on the floats. Sometimes people use open umbrellas to catch the candy - otherwise there's some digging in the tram tracks, etc to get the goods. The parade is popular and well attended - there's loud German dance music thumping and neighbors leaning out their windows and dancing.

Daisy's loot

So, think of us trying to join in the German revels during the next few days. Maybe Chris and I should use this opportunity to get every insulting thing we could ever accidentally say or do out of our systems!