The Carnival Master

Karneval in Cologne is a custom dating back to when the Romans founded the city. Its roots probably lie in the dark pagan past of the Celts who occupied the area before the arrival of Germanic and Roman invaders.

Karneval is a time when order is replaced with chaos, when the abstinence of Lent is preceded by abandon and indulgence. A time when the world is turned on its head. When people can become, for a few hours, someone else.

The Master of the Carnival is ‘Prinz Karneval’. He is also known as ‘seine Tollitat’ – His Craziness. Prinz Karneval is protected by the Prinzengarde. His personal bodyguard.

The German word ‘Karneval’ comes from the Latin ‘Carne Vale’:

‘Farewell to Flesh’.