Carnival in Germany

Advantages: some people love it
Disadvantages: some don't

...Ash Wednesday, the day when carnival is over, being the 40th day before Easter. Now what IS this Karneval? The city of Köln has put up an internet site with explanations in English, why not inform ourselves at the source so to speak? (abridged and modified by yours truly) ´It is almost as old as the history of the city itself, but the organized Karneval celebrated today only dates back 178 years. The Greeks and Romans celebrated cheerful spring ...
...and song (Köln was a Roman settlement); the ancient Germans celebrated the winter solstice as a homage to the Gods and expulsion of the evil winter demons; later the Christians adopted the heathen customs. The period of fasting (Lent) prior to Easter was heralded in by ´Fasnacht´(night of fasting) or ´Karneval´ - carne vale = farewell to meat. In the Middle Ages, the celebration, the masquerade, often took on drastic forms, very much to the displeasure ... Read review

Advantages: Wonderful colour, sights and sounds.
Disadvantages: Never known one.

...their photo taken and are very pleased to let you if you stop them and ask. We spoke to people from Canada, Germany, U.S.A. and Japan. How they came through customs or how much baggage allowance they had is unknown as the costumes where large. The Carnival is early this year, the end of January as it coincides with Shrove Tuesday. Our only draw back in visiting this year is that the restaurant that we visit was sold last year. It was the "Tre Spiedi" and it had been owned by two brothers married to two sisters and they had owned it for 25 years. Our visit to Venice was never complete without visiting there. Whilst in Venice if it is your only trip then we would advise you to visit the island of Murano and Burano, both enjoyable and so different to each other, one for glass and one for lace. We tend to go to Murano (glass) first and then onto... Read review

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