Cologne Carnival

The Carnival spirit is then temporarily suspended during the Advent and Christmas period, and picks up again in earnest after 6 January, Epiphany, in the New Year.

The time of merrymaking in the streets is officially declared open at downtown square "Alter Markt" on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent.

Every year three people (the Dreigestirn or triumvirate) are granted the titles of Jungfrau, Prinz, and Bauer (maiden, prince and peasant respectively), who pay a large sum of money for the privileges.

The carnival prince is deemed to be the highest representative of the festivities, leading the main parades throughout the week.

His attributes however remained unchanged, those of a regent: crown with peacock tail, a golden chain, a girdle with glitzy stones, white undershorts and a purple jacket.

At that time, Cologne was the largest central European city, having a huge percentage of agricultural land inside its walls[1] and the farmers guild was well respected and influential).

The maiden, also called "Ihre Lieblichkeit" (Her Loveliness) symbolizes the patronizing mother Colonia and is traditionally played by a man.

This straw doll hangs above many pubs where carnival is celebrated and is theatrically carried to the grave and burned at the end.