Elferrat

In connection with the revolution, this helped develop civil and political rights, with a level of freedom of speech and equality of citizens in front of the law.

[citation needed] The citizens robbed of their rights came to view the number eleven as a symbol of the French Revolution, because it symbolised equality among the people, that is to say one beside one.

The Elferrat thus thought of themselves as a council of citizen peers, hidden under fool's hats.

Although eleven male (in some places, also female) members of the Elferrat can be seen on stage in the official meeting in a carnival, it is mostly composed of a greater number of men.

In some cities, there are special female councils, such as the Achterrat in Freiburg, because the traditionally male-dominated associations usually leave women only in the role of majorettes, not in these representative positions.