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Jecken before the Rose Monday parade in Cologne: It's getting crowded in the city center

Photo: Oliver Berg/dpa

The Rose Monday parades are a highlight for many people in the Rhenish carnival strongholds - which is probably why at least some of them fought their way out of bed early: the first Jecken in North Rhine-Westphalia started Rose Monday when it was still dark.

Some early risers arrived in Cologne city center in their colorful costumes a good three hours before the traditional Zochs started at 10 a.m. You want to be in the front row on the side of the road when the floats finally come by, said a carnival participant who was traveling with a group of friends. Other Jecken hurried past to find a supposedly better place for the camel's own a little further away.

Scholz as a sloth, Lindner as a piggy bank

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected in the city centers in Cologne, Düsseldorf and Mainz. The largest parade traditionally takes place in Cologne, where this year's motto is: “Wat e Theater – wat e Jeckespill”.

The train should be eight and a half kilometers long, and Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) wants to mingle with the foot soldiers. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) are also there - but these two only appear as oversized papier-mâché figures on the theme float: Scholz as a peacefully slumbering sloth, Lindner as a sweating piggy bank.

In Düsseldorf, the carnivalists celebrate under the motto "Wat et nit all jöwt", and in Mainz this year's carnival motto is "On Fassenacht, Mainz am Rhein invites the whole world to a glass of wine", which refers to a glass of wine.

Gray and mild

The weather at the start of the new week in North Rhine-Westphalia will be gray and rainy. The German Weather Service (DWD) said the sun only comes out on Shrove Tuesday. However, people who walk through the streets on Rose Monday can look forward to mild temperatures: according to the DWD, up to eleven degrees are possible. However, there could be showers in some areas.

Otherwise, very cloudy weather, rain and only rare easing can be expected until Wednesday. According to the DWD, temperatures are expected to reach 7 to 10 degrees on Tuesday and between 10 and 13 degrees on Wednesday.

bbr/dpa/AFP