Cologne Carnival festivities morph into anti-war rally

Carnival is hugely popular in parts of western Germany, especially in Rhineland cities such as Cologne. But this year the city's traditional "Rosenmontag" Carnival parade had been called off due to the COVID pandemic. The war in Ukraine, however, brought 250,000 people for the solidarity parade.

One of the traditional carnival floats was refashioned to show Russian President Vladimir Putin lampooning a dove. The float drove at the top of the solidarity parade in Cologne.

Hendrik Wüst, premier of Germany's most populous state of North-Rhine Westphalia was part of the crowd as was Cologne mayor Henriette Reker and several famous local singers.

The protesters had one central slogan: "Make FasteLOVEnd not war" – a play of words on the German word for carnival: Fastnacht (or Fastelovend in the Cologne dialect). All other official carnival activities had been canceled and only private celebrations were good to go ahead.

Daniel and Ralph are members of the traditional Carnival club, Rote Funken. "Carnival should also take place in difficult times," they said. "After all, Carnival has always been somewhat political."

Gunther travelled all the way from Hamburg. He'd taken time off work to come and party. But he and his friends felt it was a good idea to let the Monday parade go ahead as an anti-war demonstration.

Kerstin and Anna came with a group of 12 people. "This year, we'll be partying low-key," they say. It was very depressing to wake up to a war in Ukraine on Thursday, they add. But they also wanted to express some positive vibes and "recharge their batteries" after the many months of COVID restrictions.

Jenny and Nadine decided against partying. "It just doesn't fit the times," says Jenny. She has come to take a clear stand against the war. They both feel encouraged that so many people have come out, also in other cities around the globe. Now, it is time to stand together, they say. And both stress that "this is Putin's war, not Russia's."