Putin bathes in blood, activists block a CO₂ slingshot, Economics Minister "Robert Habück" begs for gas in the Emirates - the 2023 Shrove Monday parades in the Rhineland were extremely political. In bright sunshine and spring temperatures, what felt like 1 million people celebrated in Cologne alone and followed the Shrove Monday procession after a long absence from COVID. The Jubilee Zoch for the 200th anniversary of the official Cologne Carnival - with the jubilees of FK, the Große KG von 1823, the Roten Funken and the traditional dance group Hellige Knäächte un Mägde - paraded for the first time from the Cologne Trade Fair Centre across the Deutzer Brücke (from the Schäl Sick across the Rhine). To thunderous applause, Prince Boris I reached his destination at around 9 p.m. and after a journey of just over five hours. His arrival sealed the finale of the Rosenmontagszug. Behind him only the float followed, already looking ahead to the next session: the theme car. It will all be over on Ash Wednesday ...
200 Years of Carnival in Cologne - "D'r Zoch kütt" (The Carnival is Coming)
