BERLIN, -- Carnival revelers in Cologne, western Germany, were lined up on Thursday to prove that they had received their COVID-19 vaccines before they could start outdoor celebrations. This was after last year's pandemic.
Even though strict pandemic regulations were followed, the carnival season began overshadowed when Cologne's official head for celebrations contracted coronavirus. Carnival Prince Sven I., who announced Tuesday that he had tested positive despite having been vaccinated, cancelled all public appearances at Cologne's city council.
However, thousands of revelers dressed as clowns, bees and pirates in Cologne's Heumarkt square danced to live brass band music.
Cologne Mayor Henriette reker stated that "We waited so much to celebrate together again." He spoke on WDR public broadcaster. "Carnival is just part of our culture."
All over the Rhineland, carnival parties were held. Locals and tourists danced to the theme song of this year's carnival in Duesseldorf. In Koblenz, they celebrated, drank, and sang on Muenzplatz.
After people had celebrated Carnival indoors, the first German virus outbreak occurred in Heinsberg at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.
The Rhineland's Carnival celebrations begin at 11:11 AM in the morning, and continue until Ash Wednesday in the year following.
