Life in Germany · Life & culture
11 November, 11:11 — Germany's carnival season starts in autumn
Carnival in November?
In early November, shop windows in Cologne and Düsseldorf suddenly fill with clown costumes and wigs — while the Halloween pumpkins are still on the doorsteps. For people in the Rhineland, 11 November at 11:11 is a special moment: it opens the carnival season, which Germans call "the fifth season" (die fünfte Jahreszeit).
A long season with a short peak
On the morning of 11 November, people in costume gather on squares and streets in Cologne to sing and dance. In Düsseldorf, the carnival figure "Hoppeditz" "wakes up" at this very minute. After this first party, things go quiet again: during Advent and Christmas, big carnival events usually take a break.
The real peak comes just before Lent, so the dates move with Easter every year. In 2027 they look like this:
| Day | 2027 | What happens? |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Nov, 11:11 | (2026) | Season opens |
| Women's Carnival (Weiberfastnacht) | Thu 4 Feb | Street carnival begins; women cut off men's ties |
| Rose Monday (Rosenmontag) | Mon 8 Feb | The biggest parades |
| Ash Wednesday (Aschermittwoch) | Wed 10 Feb | Carnival ends, Lent begins |
Why the number 11? It's often called the "fools' number", but there are several explanations for where that comes from. The committee that leads a carnival club also has eleven members and is called the Elferrat ("council of eleven"). And 11 November is also St Martin's Day — the same day as the lantern parades, so children carry lanterns while grown-ups put on clown noses.
Different names, different calls
The Rhineland says Karneval, Mainz and the south-west say Fastnacht, and Bavaria and Berlin mostly say Fasching. The calls differ, too: in Cologne you shout "Kölle Alaaf!", in Düsseldorf and Mainz "Helau!". Shouting "Helau!" in Cologne will get you some funny looks.
Tips for your first carnival
Carnival is not a public holiday. In the Rhineland, though, many companies and offices close on Rose Monday — ask at work whether yours does.
| ✅ Do | ❌ Don't |
|---|---|
| Wear at least a small costume (a hat, face paint) | Turn up in everyday clothes |
| Hold your bag open at parades to catch sweets (Kamelle) | Grab sweets someone else caught |
| Wear a tie you don't mind losing on Women's Carnival | Wear your best tie to the office |
| In Cologne, check the city's rules for the year (glass-free zones etc.) | Carry glass bottles into the crowds |
| Agree on a meeting point with friends | Rely on your phone (networks can be overloaded in crowds) |
Berlin's "Karneval der Kulturen" shares the name but is something completely different: a multicultural street festival at Pentecost in May.
Today's German words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| der Karneval | carnival |
| die fünfte Jahreszeit | the "fifth season" (carnival season) |
| sich verkleiden | to dress up (in costume) |
| das Kostüm | costume |
| der Umzug | parade, procession |
| der Jeck | (Cologne dialect) carnival reveller, fool |
On 11 November the trains to Cologne are packed — set off early if you go. Kölle Alaaf! 🎭