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The Rhenish street carnival reaches its climax with the Rose Monday parades - this girl is apparently already out and about early in the morning. The motto of the Cologne Carnival session 2024 is “Wat e Theater – wat e Jeckespill”. In standard German this means: “What a theater – what a crazy game!”
Photo: Oliver Berg/dpa
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Traditionally, horse-drawn carriages are part of the parade in Cologne - but this custom is controversial: "noise, crowds of people, unexpected contact" would mean stress for the animals, warns the German Animal Welfare Association and advocates a ban on horses in carnival. But at least this year it doesn't exist yet. Before the start of the Rose Monday parade, a veterinarian checks one of the horses.
Photo: Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa
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Some are only there as figures on the motif floats, others are in real life: Hendrik Wüst (CDU), Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, is running in Cologne and said: “That's good in a time that isn't always just mega “It’s easy – just have a bit of fun.” Carnival is a living diversity, just like the whole of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Photo: Oliver Berg/dpa
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Germany's largest Rose Monday procession in Cologne leads, among other places, through the Old Market and past Cologne Cathedral.
Photo: Oliver Berg/dpa
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The Cologne triumvirate represents the rulers over the foolish people. It consists of the prince, the farmer and the maiden. Seen here: Prince Carnival Sascha I. (l) and farmer Werner on the sidelines of the Rose Monday parade. Frieda, the maiden of the Cologne triumvirate, was not on the train: she - who is actually a man and is called Friedrich - had to undergo a hip operation on Sunday.
Photo: Oliver Berg/dpa
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While the train is already on its way in Cologne, the Rose Monday trains in Mainz and Düsseldorf traditionally only start at 11:11 a.m. and 12 p.m. respectively.
Photo: Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa
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