The Fifth Season Has Ended

Karneval is known as the "Fifth Season" in Cologne, and from its official opening on November 11th to Mardi Gras it does take on a life of its own, especially after Christmas is over and done with. I'd like to tell you more but I'm so miserably sick of/from my 2 week old flu that I will let the pictures speak for themselves. Unlike spring in Chicago, Karneval is guaranteed in any case to come again every year.

Rose Monday parade

You have to admit Monchi's lion costume is rather fitting...

Jochen's claw - scary! In Cologne they throw chocolates and flowers, not beads...

In the end the kids win out. There is a tacit understanding that if you're a Little Person you get to stand in the first row along the parade route, no questions asked. The paraders always make sure the kids get more than their fair share of candy. The most effective combo is when Jochen held Monchi as bait - everyone then came and offered up tons of stuffed animals and big chocolate bars. Of course she wanted no more of the ruckus after 20 minutes...

That's only half of the booty we collected this past weekend. In other words, Karneval means good business for dentists in Cologne!

Pig has exercised amazing self control over the loot - on Ash Wednesday we told him Karneval is over and normal rules on candy are back on, and he hasn't been a nuisance about it at all - even though the containers are still in plain view. Instead his favorite treat right now is Ricola...I don't understand it, either.