Tens of thousands celebrate start of street carnival in Germany

By Timo Kirez

GENEVA (AA) - Tens of thousands of people celebrated the start of the street carnival in the German cities of Cologne, Dusseldorf and Mainz amid rains, local media reported on Thursday.

Cologne carnival President Christoph Kuckelkorn told the daily Kolner Stadtanzeiger that the crowds were smaller than usual this time due to the bad weather.

"Either people came later or they decided to celebrate at home, which is also a nice concept," said Kuckelkorn.

Henriette Reker, the Mayor of Cologne, told local media that Cologne Carnival is always a celebration of diversity, which according to the politician, is also sung about in many songs.

"Cologne is colorful. We have all nationalities, all religious affiliations and orientations here. Cologne is a place of diversity," Reker said, adding: "I would like to see this practiced throughout the year ahead."

This is probably meant as an allusion to the current high poll ratings of the far-right AfD party.

A few days ago, a racist incident occurred during the carnival celebrations in Bergneustadt, in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, when parts of the audience shouted xenophobic slogans.

The incident occurred during the performance of a dance group in the village community center of Berlinghausen. Individuals from the audience are said to have chanted "Foreigners out", news magazine Focus reported on Thursday.

The carnival season in Germany traditionally always begins with the so-called "Weiberfastnacht" at 11:11 am. On this day, women are given the reigns for a day.

This idea has been around since the Middle Ages. At a time when women were subordinate to men in everything and men exercised sexual guardianship over women, it was considered an "upside-down world" if women were granted power.