Avellon Williams
GERMANY- The German city of Cologne was in a festive mood once again with Carnival celebrations despite the presence of the COVID-19 virus. Revelers in the Western Germany city of Cologne were lining up Thursday to show proof of their COVID-19 vaccinations before they could begin the start of the outdoors celebrations — after a hiatus due to the pandemic last year.
The celebration which traditionally begins on the 11th of November at 11:11 in the morning and lasts until Ash Wednesday, saw some people wearing masks, as others seem unfazed by the virus, which has already led to one fatality during the celebration.
Despite strict COVID-19 pandemic rules, the start of the carnival season was overshadowed by a coronavirus infection of Cologne’s official head of celebrations. Carnival Prince Sven I. announced that he had tested positive despite being vaccinated and cancelled all public appearances including the traditional reception at Cologne’s city hall, the German news agency reported.
On Cologne’s Heumarkt square in the old city, however, thousands of revelers dressed up as clowns, bees, pirates, or tigers and seemed unfazed by the country’s spiking virus numbers as they danced tightly to the brass band live music.
Cologne Mayor Henriette Reker said on a public broadcaster, “We waited so long to celebrate together again,” “Carnival is simply part of our culture.”
Carnival parties took place all over the Rhineland. In Duesseldorf, locals and tourists alike danced to this year’s theme song “Let’s celebrate life,” and in Koblenz, they celebrated, drank, and sang on the Muenzplatz square.
The German carnival celebration is one of the most important events in the country. It is an event where a lot of people celebrate before Lent.
However, the COVID-19 virus is one of many viruses making its way around Europe’s’ neighboring countries, back in 2020 with 2 cases reported. But this year there are already more than 100 cases reported with at least 50 confirmed fatalities so far across Germany alone.
