Once a year the reputation of Germans as an orderly, obedient, sober, rational and humourless people gets severely damaged. The time of year in question is known as the 'fifth season' and people everywhere go barking mad, so it seems. However, Carnival divides Germans into those who absolutely hate it and those who eagerly make fools out of themselves.

The division runs across the whole population but is also related to geography; as a rule of thumb, fanatics can be found wherever wine is grown. This is true for the Rhine valley from Constance up to Düsseldorf and includes all rivers which empty into it, namely Mosel, Neckar, Ahr, and the Main. It is also true for Saxony. Catholic regions clearly stand out since Martin Luther forbade Carnival. There are some 4000 clubs which are dispersed all over Germany with Protestants celebrating as much as Catholics. (extract from BBC's website here)

More about carnival in Germany here !!!

Check a few photos that I took first weekend in February 2008 in Düsseldorf & Köln while I was visiting Ivo Didovic - Dido, during last days of carnival time. You can check Ivo's paintings & sculptures here.