Economic and political commentary
When my husband and I decided to visit Mainz, we didn’t realize it hosts one of the three largest German Carnival celebrations (the others are in Cologne and Düsseldorf). The hotels had plenty of availability and we were looking forward to seeing the Gutenberg Museum and trying the local wines and beers.
Some of the floats were quite explicit!
It wasn’t until my friend Timo, a Mainz local, asked, “you know the Fastnacht season is kicking off, right?” that I realized things would turn out a little differently than we’d imagined. No problem; we’re flexible. Then I tried to make a reservation for six for lunch and was told no restaurants accept reservations during Fastnacht and good luck. Then the Gutenberg Museum, along with other sights and shops, was closed.
This is China (the pump) inflating the U.S.
Not joining in was not a choice. The tubas and German techno started up and the smell of fried food filled the air, so we bought two hats and enjoyed the sights.
People get creative with costumes!
Mainz’s celebration features the usual: costumes, street food, beer stands, parades, singing and dancing. The costumes weren’t as extravagant as we saw in Maastricht last year.
So, uh, I’ve never seen so many adults in plush.
We quickly learned that the battle cry is “Helau!” This is accompanied by a wave and can be directed at anyone. The more beer that’s consumed, of course, the louder and more frequent the cries.
Political commentary
Mainz’s celebration is different than Cologne’s and Düsseldorf’s because it emphasizes political humor and commentary. The politicization began in the early 19th century when celebrants mocked the French troops stationed in the city.
More animals
Guards
Today, many of the guard costumes are reminiscent of Austrian, French and Prussian troops who occupied Mainz between 1792 and 1866. The guards are a respected tradition and membership is extremely difficult, typically awarded through legacy.
I think this was a representative from the Fastnacht committee
Mainz’s Carnival season officially begins on November 11 at 11:11, and continues through Ash Wednesday. The main events take place in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday.
A food stand awaits customers
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Hi Dawn
Well it’s not exactly Rio but looks like a fun event nonetheless and quite a long carnival season too. I like the rosy red cheeks of the final “costume”. Looks like that guy’s been consuming beer since the carnival got started back in November!
By the way I got caught outside (well no choice really) in that snowstorm last week (Toronto 30cm) and combined with some other events I now have a double lung infection. Antibiotics for 10 days. Drats!
Hi Kevin,
Yes, Mainz was very unlike Rio! However, it was fun to stumble into this celebration. One thing I’ve enjoyed about being over here is seeing how the locals honor traditions in the small cities and towns. There aren’t many places in the U.S. aside from the Castro in San Francisco that you can see full-grown men in such costumes.
Sorry to hear about your lung infection! Yikes – sounds serious. I hope the drugs are working and that you’re staying inside and taking it easy!
Wow those floats are amazing. Was the second picture supposed to be Van Gogh or something? Okay, I didn’t understand the second float.
Hi Kristi, don’t feel bad – I didn’t fully understand many of the floats! They all represent German politicians and local and global political and social issues. The floats’ fronts had explicit text, but it was in German. I included the ones that were the most outrageous.
Also, sorry, I realized I didn’t answer your question! This float is (loosely – based on my interpretation) noise and Fraport is an airport management company. Two of my friends were talking about the additional runway at the main airport and how it is causing increased noise. Apparently, the airport is not taking the distraction seriously and the citizens are annoyed. So, I think the float is related to that.
Oh I see. Well, then that make sense. Wow! I do like the floats.
Heard it throught the grapevine (aka Mike) that you saw Timo in Mainz and had to check it out!
Looks like fun mayhem!
Mainz was a lot of fun! We missed the big day (Monday), but there was plenty going on during the weekend to give us a taste.