Posts Tagged ‘Koelln’

Fifth Season of the Year – Fools Time in February

Tuesday, February 16th, 2021

 

Germany enjoys an unofficial Fifth Season every year, the fools time. Wedged between some of the cold days of winter, the Fifth Season in 2021 will be celebrated from February 11 to February 16. Depending on the region, fools time is called different names and involves slightly different customs. Although it originated in the Catholic regions of the country, Protestant areas, such as Berlin, celebrate as well. But no matter what it is called, the Fifth Season ends at midnight on Shrove Tuesday. The next day, Ash Wednesday, is the official beginning of the 40-day Lenten period of fasting.

Carnival is the Fifth Season in the Rhineland

In the Rhineland, the Fifth Season of the year is called Karneval (carnival in English). The word is Latin-based and originated in the 17th century. Pre-Lenten celebrations were already popular in the Middle Ages but were prohibited later during the French occupation. In 1804, the ban was lifted, and after the French left in 1815, it became the custom to mock the Prussian military during Karneval.

The biggest Karneval celebration takes place in Koelln (Cologne), and its biggest event is the Rose Monday parade. The parade stretches out for almost four miles and takes place two days before Ash Wednesday. It is best known for its political and social parodies and elaborate floats that poke fun at local, national and international politicians and events. Rhyming speeches, called Buettenreden, are also an integral part of the celebrations. These spoofs take their name from the barrel-shaped podium used by the speaker, the Buett.

Fasching in Berlin

In Berlin and other parts of Northern Germany, the Fifth Season is called Fasching. The word dates back to the 13th century and is derived from a Germanic expression that refers to the last serving of alcoholic beverages before Lent. Fasching is the time to dress up as devils, pirates, American Indians, princesses, animals, fruits and vegetables. No floats, no speeches.

Typical Fasching costume worn in Berlin during the Fifth Season in the 1960s. Realism was not a requirement. The feather authenticated the costume. Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 1963. www.walled-in-berlin.com

Typical Fasching costume worn in Berlin during the Fifth Season in the 1960s. Realism was not a requirement. The feather authenticated the costume. Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 1963. www.walled-in-berlin.com

Fastnacht in Mainz

The term Fastnacht is mostly used in the city of Mainz in Northern Germany and in Swabia and Switzerland. The term “fastnach” without the (t) at the end, means “night of being wild and foolish.” Participants often wear masks. Over the years, Mainz has been the home of  some of the best fools time humorists. In the 1960s, two men, Otto Duerr and Georg Berresheim, were outright famous. The duo masqueraded as two cleaning ladies who shared their wisdoms. If you google “frau babbisch und frau struwwelisch” on YouTube, you’ll be able to watch a dated version of one of their 1960s performances. The quality of the video isn’t very good, but boy, does it bring back memories.

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

 

1000-Bomber Raid over Cologne

Thursday, June 5th, 2014

In 1942, the middle of World War II, the British Royal Air Force (RAF) chose a 90-minute window to bomb the German city of Koelln (Cologne). Founded in the first century AD as the Roman Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, today’s Cologne straddles both sides of the Rhine River and is Germany’s forth-largest city.

Famous Cologne Cathedral

In 1996, the Koellner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), Germany’s most visited landmark, was declared one of UNESCO’s 759 cultural World Heritage Sites. Construction of the renowned Catholic Church began in 1248 and was completed in the early 19th century. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site. Today, visitors can climb the 509 stone steps of the cathedral’s spiral staircase to reach a viewing platform that offers a magnificent scenic view of the city and the Rhine River 300 feet below.

World War II Bomber Stream Tactic

During World War II, Cologne was bombed in 262 separate Allied air raids. The first bombing took place on 12 May 1940. But the RAF 1,000-bomber-raid of 1942 caused the biggest destruction. Two-and-a-half times more bombers took part in this raid than in any prior RAF raid. It was codenamed “Operation Millennium” and introduced a new practice, called the “bomber stream” tactic. Instead of converging on their target from different airfields, the fighter planes now gathered in one stream prior to attacking their target.

1000-Bomber Raid over Cologne

Just after midnight on 30 May 1942, the city along the Rhine River was awakened to the wailing of air-raid sirens. A squadron of 1,046 RAF bombers was approaching. Although, the city of Hamburg had been the intended target, bad weather over northern Germany had caused Cologne to be selected instead. The fighter planes passed over the city at a rate of one every six seconds, dropping a total of almost 1,500 tons of high-explosive and incendiary bombs.

Damage to Cologne

Two-thirds of the bombs dropped had been incendiary bombs. Within a period of 90 minutes, close to 2.5 square miles of the city center were flattened and in flames. About 30,000 houses and 3,330 non-residential buildings were damaged or destroyed and 45,000 people became homeless. It was estimated that from 135,000 to 150,000 of Cologne’s population of nearly 700,000 fled the city after the raid. https://dirkdeklein.net/2016/05/30/the-bombing-of-cologne-90-minutes-that-changed-the-city/

 

Cologne after the 1000-bomber raid in 1942 - the Cologne Cathedral is only superficially damaged

Cologne after the 1000-bomber raid in 1942 – the Cologne Cathedral is only superficially damaged

Fate of the Cologne Cathedral

The intent of the 1000-bomber raid had been to shatter German civilian morale. But when the survivors emerged from their shelters, they saw the twin spires of their much-loved cathedral towering more or less intact against the moonlit sky. The cathedral had only been superficially damaged. Instead of demoralizing the citizens of Cologne, this inexplicable sight had the opposite effect. It strengthened the citizens’ resolve, similar to that of British civilians after the London Blitz.

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.