A convoy made up of 90 vehicles brought 140 tons of foodstuffs to town. It is surrounded by a crowd. Staff dressed in red-and-white uniforms are throwing the convenience goods towards the people, who are desperately screaming for food. Some of them have come a long way and grab any package they can get, hold up bags, as well as hats and umbrellas upside down, hysterically scream at every catch; motivated either by joy or envy. Security staff try to keep the masses at a safe distance. Children are poking the garbage for food long after the convoy has passed.

Eritrea? Bangladesh? Afghanistan? Somalia? No. Colonia!

It’s just fun! It’s been a long time that anybody starved here. They are throwing "Kamelle", i. e. toffees, and chocolate. What looks like a heathen custom at first glance is a christian one in reality: "Carnival" is based on the Latin expression for "no more meat" ("carne" = meat, levare = "to take away") and hints at the Lent period immediately before Easter. (The last night you’re still allowed to tuck in is the so-called "shrove tuesday".)

Just fun? Some participants pull a face as if they had been forced to do it:

Other attendants’ smirks seem to be a bit "put on" ....

But to be fair: 1 million carnival revellers attended the Carnival Monday Parade in Cologne on 03/03/03 and had fun, indeed, as you can discern from these pictures: (Click picture to enlarge)

By the way: Michael Jackson was there, too. Masked, though, in order to disclose his identity, but I don’t miss anything!

Text and images: Michael von Aichberger. No duplication without written permission!