The Festive Celebration of Karneval is one of the oldest customs in Germany, especially in the Rheinland, is Karneval, also known as Mardi Gras. The Karneval season takes place between November
11th (“elften elften um elf Uhr elf”)and Ash Wednesday, and is often called “die fuenfte Jahreszeit” or fifth season. During the winter months, there was no farm work to be done and little work to be done in the city, creating an opportune time for festivities. Everyday life during these months was taken lighter. People were allowed to ridicule their local authorities in a joking way, and a Prince (Prinz) and Princess (Prinzessin) were elected to reign over the season, assisted by the Council of Eleven Jesters, or the Elferrat. To keep the tradition of Karneval alive the Mardi Gras Society of Milwaukee
(Rheinischer Verein Gruen – Weiss) was founded in 1964. A Prinz known as “Seine Tollitaet” (His Craziness) and Prinzessin
known as “Ihre Lieblichkeit” (Her Loveliness) have been crowned every year since. The crowning of the royal couple is a colorful gala affair, where guests are impressed with the pageantry, colorful uniforms, and all of the pomp and splendor displayed.The Royalty is greeted by their subjects with a greeting that is unique – Helau!, which is a greeting of cheer and joyfulness. Even though Mardi Gras in Milwaukee may not be celebrated with as enormous pomp, ceremony, and splendor as is displayed in the German cities of Cologne and Duesseldorf, we are known for celebrating this custom with enthusiasm, which comes from the heart, even surprising visitors from Germany who have come to Milwaukee to participate in the festivities. Close contact has been established with other Mardi Gras societies in the United States, Canada, and Germany. In 1974, the Mardi Gras Society was made honorary member of the “Duisburger Hauptausschuss”, the umbrella organization for all Mardi Gras societies in the city of Duisburg. Other festivities that are celebrated during the Karneval season include, Kappensitzung where speakers entertain the people with funny speeches; Maskenball, or masquerade dance, which also includes a women’s masquerade –Weiberfastnacht; and Kehraus, or the closing of the season, where Hoppeditz, the clown of Karneval, is put to rest until November. Music is also an important part of Karneval, and the linking of arms and swaying to the music (Schunkeln) is a common site at all events. There are traditional Karneval songs including: “Denn Einmal Nur Im Jahr ist Karneval ”(Karneval only happens once a year), and many others, some that are hundreds of years old. The custom of Karneval is one that can be shared and enjoyed by all people, no matter what area of Germany or the world they are from.
