In Cologne, the Shrove Monday procession set in motion on Monday morning. It is the first time in three years that the largest German carnival procession rolls through the city again. In 2021 and 2022, he was canceled due to the corona pandemic. Last year, there was a large demonstration against the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine on Shrove Monday in Cologne.
For the first time, the train started in Deutz on the right bank of the Rhine and then crossed the Rhine. Until now, the train had always been limited to the left bank of Cologne on the left bank of the Rhine. The police secure the event with 2000 officers. Hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected along the route.
The Cologne Shrove Monday procession celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. In 1823 it was initiated by wealthy citizens to civilize Fastnacht and thereby give the festival more recognition in Prussia. At that time, just 15 vehicles drove around Neumarkt in Cologne's city centre. "That's called looking for a parking space today," joked comedian Guido Cantz on WDR television.
This year's satirical carnival floats deal with the war in Ukraine, among other things. Russian President Vladimir Putin can be seen once as vampire Nosferatu, who turns the world through the meat grinder, and once kissing the devil. In Düsseldorf's Shrove Monday procession, Putin takes a bloodbath in a tub in the Ukrainian colors of blue and yellow.
550,000 spectators expected in Mainz
With brass music and Helau shouts, the Mainz Shrove Monday procession started after a two-year corona break. As the first of 137 train numbers, the Mainz Knights' Guild set in motion in sunny weather. Under the motto "In Mainz, Fastnacht stands for peace, freedom, tolerance!" a total of around 9200 active participants were on the road, including more than 2000 musicians.
Already in Mainz's Neustadt, where the seven-kilometer Lindwurm train route begins, thousands of spectators stood at the roadside. The Mainzer Carneval-Verein (MCV) as organizer expects – as before Corona – with around 550,000 spectators. Many people pay particular attention to the ten motif cars with their satirical commentaries on domestic and world politics and events in Mainz.
The Federal Chancellor can be seen on one as "Scholzomat". The biting satire of the carnival also affects the Russian warlord Vladimir Putin and the mullahs in Iran.
The police want to be present on Shrove Monday throughout the day with around 1000 forces in the city. "We are prepared for anything," said a police spokesman. The move will be the 119th since its premiere in 1838. The cost of security had risen exorbitantly, MCV President Hannsgeorg Schönig had said in advance. The financing of the motif cars was also difficult. However, it had been possible to involve other clubs and guards.