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IN PICTURES: Tens of thousands of people flock to Cologne for carnival launch

The Local
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IN PICTURES: Tens of thousands of people flock to Cologne for carnival launch
People dressed up for the start of Carnival in Cologne. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Rolf Vennenbernd

Carnival kicked off in Germany on Friday, with tens of thousands celebrating in Cologne, while other Karneval strongholds also held events.

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Countless Jecken (revellers) gathered in the parts of Germany that celebrate Karneval - known as the fifth season - on November 11th.

The event starts every year on this date at 11:11 am, and stretches into February or March, when colourful parades spill into the streets.

Cologne always holds a large celebration on this date, with people pouring into its Altstadt (old town).

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Revellers in Cologne, as shown in the photos, get ready for carnival season by getting dressed up in various outfits. 

Cologne

Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Thomas Banneyer

A carnival enthusiast, below, waves to the camera in Cologne. 

A carnival enthusiast

Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Rolf Vennenbernd

Events were taking place throughout Cologne, including in the Heumarkt. There was set to be a stage programme all day with bands including the Bläck Fööss, the Paveiern and Brings. 

READ ALSO: 10 unmissable events in Germany this November

Cologne

Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Rolf Vennenbernd
 
Cologne's Kölsch beer was being sold in some areas. People are known to start drinking alcohol early on in the day. 

Beers lined up

Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Rolf Vennenbernd
 

Below is a view of Zülpicher Strasse in Cologne on Friday morning before carnival kicked off. 

Cologne Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Thomas Banneyer

It's not just Cologne that's celebrating the start of the "fifth season". Other areas - including Mainz and Bonn as mentioned in the tweets below - are also marking the occasion.

Another carnival stronghold - Düsseldorf - also marked the start of carnival season.

The Düsseldorf carnival figure Hoppeditz, below, awakens from his sleep at 11:11am, marking the start of carnival. The motto of the 2022 carnival season is: "Düsseldorf Helau - we celebrate life".

Düsseldorf

Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Fabian Strauch

Don't forget to listen to The Local Germany's in Focus podcast to hear more about carnival season, as well as German news and other traditions. 

People wear outlandish outfits - with lots of colour involved - like these dudes shown below outside Cologne cathedral.

Revellers in Cologne Photo; picture alliance/dpa | Roberto Pfeil

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