Many world tour acts consider Germany an important market, so it’s no surprise that the festival season here is full of the best names from all genres. EDM’s relatively young weekend festival develops a reputation for excellent annual celebrations. No wonder, given the ability to book several big DJ superstars every year. For Catholics, religious festivals are all important, while Protestants tend to focus more on Easter and Reformation Day.
There is also a bustling bazaar with all kinds of goodies on the mainland. With so much on offer, it’s no wonder the festival has become a hugely popular family event. The largest oktoberfest and most famous of these celebrations in Germany takes place in Cologne. Several comedy shows and other performances also take place as part of the Alternative Carnival.
The Day of German Unity on October 3 is the national festival of Germany. It is Martin Day on November 11, religious celebration in honor of St. Martin of Tours, a Roman soldier who later became a monk.
Stores close around noon on Christmas Eve, and many offices allow employees to leave early to go home and spend time with family and enjoy a traditional potato and sausage salad meal or raclette. Attending midnight mass on Christmas Eve to mark the end of Advent (which begins on December 6, St. Nicholas Day) is also popular. However, many people reserve a day or week off to enjoy the festival. Crazy costumes, great events and over 70+ floating boats are definitely the highlights of this Karneval. There are parties in every corner of the city, from pubs to public squares and restaurants. In addition, the Reeperbahn Festival was visited in 2019 by 53,000 visitors and more than 5000+ professional guests from all over the world.
But the celebrations in Heidelberg are much more ironic than religious. According to legend, witches gathered every year on top of a mountain in the Brocken region, which Christians countered by praying through the intercession of St. Walpurga. Gathering at the Thingstätte for a huge bonfire, drinking and general fun, this pilgrimage is more of a celebration of hocus pocus than any saint.
It features a number of floating boats, unique and crazy costumes and other small events that are part of the entire Cologne Carnival. The German carnival spirit is greatly heightened by the Cologne Carnival. If you are now looking for an exciting tour of Cologne, take a look at the carnival. A curious fact to keep in mind is that the Cologne Carnival is as old as the city itself. Although the old program is very different from today, the organized fashion of the Cologne carnival that we know today only existed for about 190 years.