Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Fat Thursday

Carnival has a long tradition not only in Cologne, where it is known and often got suppressed since medieval times. The French did not like it, but allowed carnival in 1804, from then on, carneval societies were founded often making fun of (French and later Prussian) militarism. The "fifth season" (carnival season) is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month November. That is the time of balls and sessions. The carneval hits the streets on Fat Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) with a declaration at the Alter Markt square at 11.11h. on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent. Shops are closed, pubs are open, Cologne folks are masqueraded, sing, drink and dance. Musicians gather at street corners form a marching band and ten minutes later they take the lead of a loud and colourful parade through the neighbourhood. Kölle Alaaf! For somebody not born here - it feels a bit strange.

Carnival has a long tradition not only in Cologne, where it is known and often got suppressed since medieval times. The French did not like it, but allowed carnival in 1804, from then on, carneval societies were founded often making fun of (French and later Prussian) militarism. The "fifth season" (carnival season) is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month November. That is the time of balls and sessions. The carneval hits the streets on Fat Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) with a declaration at the Alter Markt square at 11.11h. on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent. Shops are closed, pubs are open, Cologne folks are masqueraded, sing, drink and dance. Musicians gather at street corners form a marching band and ten minutes later they take the lead of a loud and colourful parade through the neighbourhood. Kölle Alaaf! For somebody not born here - it feels a bit strange.

Carnival has a long tradition not only in Cologne, where it is known and often got suppressed since medieval times. The French did not like it, but allowed carnival in 1804, from then on, carneval societies were founded often making fun of (French and later Prussian) militarism. The "fifth season" (carnival season) is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month November. That is the time of balls and sessions. The carneval hits the streets on Fat Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) with a declaration at the Alter Markt square at 11.11h. on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent. Shops are closed, pubs are open, Cologne folks are masqueraded, sing, dink and dance. For somebody not born here - it feels a bit strange.

Carnival has a long tradition not only in Cologne, where it is known and often got suppressed since medieval times. The French did not like it, but allowed carnival in 1804, from then on, carneval societies were founded often making fun of (French and later Prussian) militarism. The "fifth season" (carnival season) is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month November. That is the time of balls and sessions. The carneval hits the streets on Fat Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) with a declaration at the Alter Markt square at 11.11h. on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent. Shops are closed, pubs are open, Cologne folks are masqueraded, sing and dance. For somebody not born here - it feels a bit strange. Bands play an important role. It needs a certain, hard and strong rhythm and "Guggenmusik", deeply rooted in Alemannic traditions, played with brass instruments and drums, is just perfect. "Guggamusik Meenzer Rhoigeister" came from Mainz to Cologne had did a great performance, reminding me on the fantastic French fanfares. Here is the music: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfozclrAYJ0

Carnival has a long tradition not only in Cologne, where it is known and often got suppressed since medieval times. The French did not like it, but allowed carnival in 1804, from then on, carneval societies were founded often making fun of (French and later Prussian) militarism. The "fifth season" (carnival season) in Cologne is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month November. That is the time of balls and sessions. The carneval hits the streets on Fat Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) with a declaration at the Alter Markt square at 11.11h. on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent. Shops are closed, pubs are open, Cologne folks are masqueraded, drink, sing and dance. When more than one million people sing, dance and drink "Kölsch" beer, this behaviour surely has certain impacts. These have been calculated - and thousands of portable toilets and urinals are distributed over the city.

Carnival has a long tradition not only in Cologne, where it is known and often got suppressed since medieval times. The French did not like it, but allowed carnival in 1804, from then on, carneval societies were founded often making fun of (French and later Prussian) militarism. The "fifth season" (carnival season) in Cologne is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month November. That is the time of balls and sessions. The carneval hits the streets on Fat Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) with a declaration at the Alter Markt square at 11.11h. on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent. Shops are closed, pubs are open, Cologne folks are masqueraded, drink, sing and dance. When more than one million people sing, dance and drink "Kölsch" beer, this behaviour surely has certain impacts. These have been calculated - and thousands of portable toilets and urinals are distributed over the city.

Carnival has a long tradition not only in Cologne, where it is known and often got suppressed since medieval times. The French did not like it, but allowed carnival in 1804, from then on, carneval societies were founded often making fun of (French and later Prussian) militarism. The "fifth season" (carnival season) is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month November. That is the time of balls and sessions. The carneval hits the streets on Fat Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) with a declaration at the Alter Markt square at 11.11h. on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent. Shops are closed, pubs are open, Cologne folks are masqueraded, bands perform on streets and squares, people sing and dance. For somebody not born here - it feels a bit strange.

Carnival has a long tradition not only in Cologne, where it is known and often got suppressed since medieval times. The French did not like it, but allowed carnival in 1804, from then on, carneval societies were founded often making fun of (French and later Prussian) militarism. The "fifth season" (carnival season) is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month November. That is the time of balls and sessions. The carneval hits the streets on Fat Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) with a declaration at the Alter Markt square at 11.11h. on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent. Shops are closed, pubs are open, Cologne folks are masqueraded, sing and dance. For somebody not born here - it feels a bit strange. The emperor and his jester return from the bottle shop.

Carnival has a long tradition not only in Cologne, where it is known and often got suppressed since medieval times. The French did not like it, but allowed carnival in 1804, from then on, carneval societies were founded often making fun of (French and later Prussian) militarism. The "fifth season" (carnival season) is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month November. That is the time of balls and sessions. The carneval hits the streets on Fat Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) with a declaration at the Alter Markt square at 11.11h. on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent. Shops are closed, pubs are open, Cologne folks are masqueraded, sing and dance. For somebody not born here - it feels a bit strange.

Carnival has a long tradition not only in Cologne, where it is known and often got suppressed since medieval times. The French did not like it, but allowed carnival in 1804, from then on, carneval societies were founded often making fun of (French and later Prussian) militarism. The "fifth season" (carnival season) is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month November. That is the time of balls and sessions. The carneval hits the streets on Fat Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) with a declaration at the Alter Markt square at 11.11h. on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent. Shops are closed, pubs are open, Cologne folks are masqueraded, sing and dance. For somebody not born here - it feels a bit strange. Folks are not only queueing to enter pubs. They as well stand in line for - toilets.

Carnival has a long tradition not only in Cologne, where it is known and often got suppressed since medieval times. The French did not like it, but allowed carnival in 1804, from then on, carneval societies were founded often making fun of (French and later Prussian) militarism. The "fifth season" (carnival season) is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month November. That is the time of balls and sessions. The carneval hits the streets on Fat Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) with a declaration at the Alter Markt square at 11.11h. on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent. Shops are closed, pubs are open, Cologne folks are masqueraded, sing and dance. For somebody not born here - it feels a bit strange. Folks are queueing to enter "Früh im Veedel", a popular pub next to the Severinstor.

Carnival has a long tradition not only in Cologne, where it is known and often got suppressed since medieval times. The French did not like it, but allowed carnival in 1804, from then on, carneval societies were founded often making fun of (French and later Prussian) militarism. The "fifth season" (carnival season) is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month November. That is the time of balls and sessions. The carneval hits the streets on Fat Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) with a declaration at the Alter Markt square at 11.11h. on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent. Shops are closed, pubs are open, Cologne folks are masqueraded, sing and dance. For somebody not born here - it feels a bit strange.

Carnival has a long tradition not only in Cologne, where it is known and often got suppressed since medieval times. The French did not like it, but allowed carnival in 1804, from then on, carneval societies were founded often making fun of (French and later Prussian) militarism. The "fifth season" (carnival season) is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month November. That is the time of balls and sessions. The carneval hits the streets on Fat Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) with a declaration at the Alter Markt square at 11.11h. on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent. Shops are closed, pubs are open, Cologne folks are masqueraded, sing and dance. For somebody not born here - it feels a bit strange. Folks are queueing to enter Filos, a pub in the Südstadt. Note the blue puppet. This is "Nubbel", a strawfilled puppet, that can be found over most pubs. Nubbel is a scapegoat. Nobbel will be blamed for all sins of anybody that may have happened over carnival. Nubbel will be sentenced to death and burned in the night before Ash Wednesday.

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". There would probably not much protest, if Cologne would be declared the "Carnival Capital" of Germany. "Cologne Carnival" is called the 5th season , that is officially declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month November. Between Fat Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) and Ash Wednesday (Aschermittwoch) the street-carnival runs high and reaches its climax Rose Monday (Rosenmontag) with the "Rose Monday Procession" (Rosenmontagszug). All through these days, Cologne folks go out masqueraded. So there are special shops like this one, offering any kind of masks, wigs, hats, customes - red noses. www.koelner-kostuemkiste.de Kölle Alaaf!