Sundays in My City

I'm a little late with this but I had to post it.

My first Karneval.

Karneval is kind of like Mardi Gras but it lasts for months. It culminated last weekend on Monday, a holiday called Rosenmontag. I would have never known that our little town had a celebration - and parade! - except that the terrier lady invited me.

I had no idea what to expect. I was so excited! I tried to get my man to go, but he is one of those anti-Karneval people. (Why, I could tell you after the fact.)

I actually put make up on.

But when I got to Petra and Norbert's house, they both tried to hand me things to wear. You just don't go to Karneval like *that*, they said. I said, "But, my costume is "The American!" and they finally gave up.

They had brightly colored scarves, and gloves, the bare minimum for acceptable Karneval attire.

Isabel and her friend left the house, totally dolled up - Isabel's costume was an angel.

I said, "Careful, it's snowing!" as they ran down the steps.

Petra said to me, "You need a bag!"

"Why?"

"Cuz you get to catch the candy they throw from the parade floats!"

Ohhhh. Thankfully they had an extra.

As we arrived, I kept gasping at all the crazy costumes. How did they do that? I asked, What are they supposed to be? I asked. Petra was amused that it really was my first time.

11:11 is the time it starts. Just like 11/11 is the start of the Karneval season. Yah, a whole season of Mardi Gras, crazy.



I was amazed at the costumes, many of which were homemade.







I loved how many little boys went around as police officers.






What will I be next year?










But what impressed me the most were the really old people in costume. I mean REALLY old people, celebrating this to the utmost, in crazy costumes. Little old ladies as clowns, little old men as Robin Hood, it was great.








It was spitting snow and so cold, I swore next year I'd come as a polar bear.







This was my favorite costume - apart from the 2 Darth Vaders I saw. This guy is wearing a parking card - what we all have in our cars in Germany, to say how long we have been parked (in 2 hour zones, for example).






The floats were nuts. Really different from what I've seen in America.







Did you catch that? A mannequin in a bikini between two speakers carried on the front end of a tractor?












These were just community bands, not high school bands.








I didn't get a lot of the messages on the floats. Many were political statements.







Dragons were there.








Petra and Norbert were dancing someting rather serious looking.








Dancing kids.








A group were dressed up like "red cap" champagne. This lady was really nice and let me take her pic.







I kept waving, "Throw candy over HERE!" to no avail (but I got lots in the end, from my persistence.)







Banana guy.








After the parade, kissing and the banana guy.







They have no idea they're on the Internet for this.







Hey, that's a cool costume! She had rats all over her.








If you can't make a cool costume, you can at least fanangle together a cork-cap.






I love how everyone seemed to at least give a little effort - they wore leis, and she wore a nose too!







I will protect her identity cuz she's still very young.

Norbert had brought Gluehwein for us, and tiny cups, because it was snowing and windy and really miserable out. Then he brought out the Schnapps, and shared it with whoever came by with an empty glass. Drinking on the street. So German. But later we were to enjoy the typical beer (Pils), but I really prefer a darker beer (Alt), and when I asked, I received horrified glances. That is the "Other City's Beer" - a-hem. OK, then.




This lady was going around as a popular German pun. Her little sign translates "A lemon" (as in to get a bad deal, for example, when buying a car). She gave my camera such a smile, I had to post her.








There's your quintessential Karneval guy peein' on a wall.








Here we all are. The bags are full of candy. (Mine too, and various swag items.)













Afterwards the street sweeper came and got all the candy soaked in sleet, lying on the ground.








A little Karneval music.

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