Karnival

It's Karnival Season in Germany!!!

Known as the "5th season", it begins in November but the biggest celebrations occur in the weeks before Lent. This is a very big deal here. Mainz is a Catholic city and Karnival is a festival traditionally held in Roman Catholic societies. Karnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, masque and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations which mark an overturning of daily life.

Sitting in our room one afternoon we heard some ruckus including live music and decided to walk around the city and see what was going on.

This picture was taken prior to approaching the chaos.

Still hadn't reached the chaos yet but we did pass this bakery on the way. How cute are those little pastry men holding their pipes?

We finally arrived at the source of the excitement. FIRST DAY OF KARNIVAL PARTY!

Looks like we caught the end of things. There were wine and beer bottles scattered all over the marktplatz; some whole but mostly broken. There was a stage set up for live music, in front of which groups of very "happy" people were singing and dancing.

There were also booths set up selling traditional German food and drinks

See the giant hanging meat tray? Germany knows how to do meat!

Here are some pictures of just a few of the different costumes people were wearing.

I saw a lot of devils.

Some clown looking costumes.

Some traditional mountain men perhaps?

This was the most elaborate costume, unfortunately I could not get a good shot from the front. Not without being too much of a creepy American tourist.

Witches.

Parliament?

It was all very exciting. The Germans were SO loud, SO excited and SO drunk. We hear that is expected and normal for these celebrations.

There were also some night time activities.

I know these aren't the best pictures but there was a really cool and LONG parade of school children carrying unique lanterns.

One class had made some impressive models of the big and well-known buildings in Mainz. We were excited to see the institute, our HOME, made the cut!

Since the first-day celebrations we have not heard or seen much about Karnival but we hear there will be lots of very exciting things happening as Advent gets closer. We can't wait for the amazingness that we hear German Christmas time is : )