The following Sunday belongs to processions through the streets, organised by local schools and the different districts of the city and watched by hundreds of thousands of people.
The real highlight is the next day, “Rosenmontag” (Rose Monday), the day of the big Carnival procession with the three chief Carnival figures – Prince, Peasant and Maiden. Each year’s procession tries to outdo that of the year before in colourfulness, witty ideas and colourful costumes.
Scores of decorated floats with huge figures parodying topical events, about 130 bands, hundreds of horses, brightly clad groups – all passing through streets packed tightly with millions of people cheering and calling out for sweets and little bunches of flowers which are thrown in tons and ten thousands to the merry-makers.
