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A woman wearing a Carnival mask in Venice
Image: Ervin Shulku/ZUMA Press/picture allianceImage: Ervin Shulku/ZUMA Press/picture alliance

Carnival

Carnival is a festive season celebrated in the Western Christian world ahead of Lent.2024 Carnival kicks off in Germany on February 8.

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Carnival in Guinea-Bissau

Every year, carnival in Guinea-Bissau combines the country's traditional culture with the joy of living.
March 5, 201901:48 min
Karneval in Deutschland 2019

Gerst joins Cologne Carnival parade

On Rose Monday, German astronaut Alexander Gerst reveals what the tradition and space travel have in common.
CultureMarch 4, 2019
Rosenmontag in Köln Karneval in Deutschland 2019

Cologne Carnival floats take a jab at politics

The climax of Cologne's Carnival comes on Rose Monday with the city's official parade. Here are a few of the floats.
CultureMarch 4, 20198 images
Brasilien Karneval in Rio de Janeiro | Sambaschule Mangueira

Rio's evangelicals go Carnival

Brazil is celebrating its first Carnival since right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro took office.
March 4, 201902:34 min
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer in a Carnival costume

Merkel successor under fire for anti-LGBT joke

The CDU leader mocked the idea of gender-neutral bathrooms during a Carnival television program.
PoliticsMarch 3, 2019
Rom Vatikan Generalaudienz Die kölsche Abordnung um das Kölner Dreigestirn mit Papst Franziskus I.

Prince, peasant, maiden: Cologne's Carnival triumvirate

A behind-the-scenes look at the crazy, colorful and crowded Cologne Carnival.
SocietyMarch 2, 201912:33 min
A woman wearing a rainbow cape celebrates the opening of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio kicks off Carnival with anti-Bolsonaro flair

Revelers view this year's event as a way to push back against Bolsonaro, who is known for homophobic and sexist remarks.
CultureMarch 2, 2019
DW Euromaxx 02.03.19 Karneval

German carnival costumes in Venice

Horst Raack has won the Venice Carnival’s costume competition many times. He’s back again this year.
LifestyleMarch 2, 201904:53 min
Köln Weiberfastnacht 2019

An American's first Carnival

Carnival in Cologne is Germany's most famous celebration of the event. DW's Hallie Rawlinson reports on her first time.
TravelMarch 1, 2019
Deutschland Fasnacht auf Konstanz

Composer's Nazi past overshadows Constance Carnival

A Constance Carnival club has dissociated itself from songs by a deceased composer after a probe into his Nazi past.
PoliticsFebruary 28, 2019
Jewish Carnival association Kölsche Kippa Köpp

The 'Kölsche Kippa Köpp': A Jewish Carnival club

For the first time since the Nazi era, there's a Jewish Carnival club: the Kölsche Kippa Köpp.
CultureFebruary 28, 2019
Dietfurt citizens in face paint (picture-alliance/dpa/A. Weigel)

A German town 'turns' Chinese - for a few days

The Bavarian town of Dietfurt celebrates Carnival a bit differently. There, everyone dresses in Chinese costumes.
CultureFebruary 28, 20196 images
Rote Funken on stage

Cologne's oldest Carnival association

Cologne's Rote Funken guard goes way back to the 18th century. DW takes a closer look at this traditional association.
LifestyleFebruary 27, 2019
Cologne's Rote Funken Carnival club

Carnival in uniform: Cologne's Rote Funken

The Rote Funken are Cologne's oldest carnival association, founded in 1823.
LifestyleFebruary 27, 20197 images
Procession leader Alexander Dieper showing two designs by Cologne caricaturist Rollo.

Cologne Carnival: Float designs revealed

DW shows you the designs that can be expected on floats at Cologne's tradition Rose Monday procession
SocietyFebruary 15, 20195 images
Revelers in Cologne, November 2018

German Jews found 'KKK' club

The initials were made infamous by the Ku Klux Klan, but hold an entirely different meaning for Cologne Jews.
SocietyFebruary 5, 2019
A man dressed as video game hero Super Mario drives a go-kart through the crowd

Germans celebrate start of carnival season

The season of beer, colorful costumes and silliness is set to last until Ash Wednesday in March next year.
SocietyNovember 11, 2018
Euromaxx Sendung 20.06.18 Fasnacht

European traditions: Basel carnival

Traditional costumes, music and masks: Basler carnival is unique.
LifestyleJune 21, 201804:27 min
Bremen Marktplatz

Bremen in a nutshell

The highlights and must-sees of Bremen
CultureMarch 9, 201801:51 min
DW Euromaxx Highlights (Sendungslogo)

Euromaxx - Highlights of the Week

Milan fashion scene, carnival in Nice, slackliner Lukas irmler, Danish chef Mikkel Karstad and Innsbruck.
LifestyleFebruary 24, 201826:00 min
Euromaxx Karneval Nizza

Party on the Côte d'Azur: Carnival in Nice

Every year, the colorful carnival in Nice attracts nearly a million visitors.
LifestyleFebruary 24, 201804:32 min
Rassismus in Neujahrsgala auf CCTV

China's carnival of cliches

A TV sketch about Africa during China's New Year celebrations has triggered accusations of racism and neo-colonialism.
SocietyFebruary 22, 2018
DW Euromaxx (Sendunglogo)

Euromaxx - Lifestyle Europe

Creative costumes: Basel carnival is one of Europe’s biggest. Extreme heights: professional slackliner Lukas Irmler walks between peaks in the South Tyrolean Dolomites. Plus: musicians, who tried their hand as actors.
LifestyleFebruary 20, 201826:00 min
Dw Euromaxx Basler Fastnacht

UNESCO World Heritage: Basel carnival

The carnival in the Swiss city of Basel rings in the 40 days of Lent. Its rituals and costumes are so unique that, in December, 2017, UNESCO listed the festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
LifestyleFebruary 20, 201805:05 min
DW Euromaxx (Sendunglogo)

Euromaxx - Lifestyle Europe 19.02.2018

Carnival in Nice, Felix Jaehn’s debut album and a video game with a handmade background.
LifestyleFebruary 19, 201826:00 min
Flowers and candles at a temporary memorial for the policeman who died on tram tracks in Cologne

Man arrested for pushing officer into streetcar

Police suspect it was a case of murder, although the judge is not convinced.
CrimeFebruary 13, 2018
Volkswagen float

Düsseldorf carnival parade pulls no punches

Carnival parades in Germany give satirists ample scope to demonstrate their art.
PoliticsFebruary 12, 20187 images
Deutschland Karneval Rosenmontagszug in Düsseldorf

Carnival parades draw millions across Germany

Millions of revelers have braved cold winter weather to attend traditional parades in carnival strongholds in Germany.
SocietyFebruary 12, 2018
Berlin carnival prunce and princess

Carnival in Berlin? A mission impossible

Berlin residents originally from the Rhineland have tried to import carnival fun to the German capital — in vain.
CultureFebruary 12, 2018
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Jewish community joins Carnival parade

It's Carnival season, and this year, the Jewish community of Dusseldorf is taking part in the parade with its own float.
February 11, 201802:31 min
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Rio Carnival kicks off

Rio's evangelical mayor has attended the opening ceremony, after taking flak for ducking out last year.
CultureFebruary 10, 201801:30 min
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Kölsch for beginners: A crash course

Before you head to Cologne for the city's Carnival, you must know some essential words in the local dialect: Kölsch!
LifestyleFebruary 8, 201801:41 min
Deutschland Karneval Weiberfastnacht in Düsseldorf

The Carnival Quiz

Test your knowledge of Germany's fifth season and find out how crazy about carnival or "jeck" you are.
TravelFebruary 8, 2018
Trash after Carneval in Cologne

The dark side of Germany's Carnival

Attention Carnival fans: Be aware that it can be a cruel fate to live in the Rhineland if you are a non-reveler.
PoliticsFebruary 7, 2018
Women celebrating Weiberfastnacht in Cologne, Copyright: picture-alliance/dpa

Why Carnival kicks off with gender power games

Women take charge of men on the Thursday before Carnival, cut off their ties and give them a kiss.
CultureFebruary 7, 2018
Carnival in Cologne

Tips for Carnival in Cologne

Follow Cologne's "Basic Law" for Carnival — and enjoy what people there call the "fifth season."
CultureFebruary 7, 2018
Italien | Karneval in Venedig - Flug des Engels

'Angel' flies in Venice

Twenty thousand revellers packed into St Mark's Square on Sunday for the "flight of the angel"
TravelFebruary 5, 2018
Fasnacht in Ulm, Baden-Württemberg

Carnival spectator injured in southern Germany

A spectator at a Fasnacht parade in Eppingen fell into a cauldron of hot water, severely injuring herself.
LifestyleFebruary 4, 2018
DW Euromaxx - Zuschaueraktion Kostüm

What's your Favorite Disguise!

It’s the carnival season in many European countries – and we wanted to know what your favorites disguise is.
CultureFebruary 2, 2018
DW euromaxx Ein Besuch beim Karneval in Venedig

A taste of carnival in Venice

Besides the masks and lavishly decorated boats, Venice offers traditional carnival pastries.
LifestyleJanuary 30, 201804:34 min
Venedig Karnevalsbeginn 2018

City of Sport: Venice Carnival 2018 opens

Masks, balls and fire eaters - Europe's most famous carnival has kicked off in Italy.
CultureJanuary 27, 20186 images
Alex Dieper shows off Rose Monday float designs

Carnival 2018: A peek at Rose Monday floats

Parades are the highlight on Rose Monday. Some of the 2018 Carnival float designs have already been, well, floated.
CultureJanuary 26, 2018
Man presents a drawing of Kim Jong Un holding up a missile

Carnival 2018: Parade float designs unveiled

Parades are the highlight on Rose Monday. Some of the 2018 Carnival float designs have already been, well, floated.
CultureJanuary 26, 20185 images
DW euromaxx 24.02.17 Kostümtrends im Karneval 2017

Carnival costumes in 2017

What were the most popular carnival costumes in Germany this year?
LifestyleDecember 27, 201703:27 min
Carneval in Cologne, 2017/2018 | Köln

Germany's Rhineland kicks off Carnival season

Thousands of Germans dressed in colorful costumes have braved the cold weather to mark the beginning of Carnival season.
SocietyNovember 11, 20176 images
Protesters dressed in coloful costumes

Carnival-themed protests against climate change

About 2,000 activists, some dressed in costumes, demonstrated in Bonn demanding urgent action to fight climate change.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 11, 20176 images
Climate demonstration Bonn

Carnival-themed climate protests in Bonn

A fake Donald Trump, polar bears and thousands of other protestors, took to Bonn's streets to demand climate action.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 11, 2017
1. FC Köln - Eintracht Frankfurt | Schmatke und Stöger stinkesauer

From carnival to crisis in Cologne

Cologne travel to Hannover on Sunday on the back of five straight league defeats. DW asks: what's gone wrong?
SportsSeptember 22, 2017
Rote Funken from Cologne

The German obsession with clubs

From Carnival to football and even odder hobbies like rabbit-breeding, there's a club for everyone in Germany.
CultureSeptember 6, 2017
Notting Hill Karneval in London

UK festival pays homage to Grenfell Tower victims

Local officials and residents have released white doves to commemorate the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.
CatastropheAugust 27, 2017