Last modified: 2023-04-01 by 
klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: mainzer carneval-verein |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
![[Mainzer Carneval-Verein]](../images/d/de@mcv.gif)
image by M. Schmöger, 27 Feb 2006
Today the carnival in Germany (particularly the areas near the Rhine) is at its zenith. I spotted a flag on a photo at WIKIPEDIA (editorial note: link meanwhile is obsolete), showing a carnival flag at Mainz. The flag is a hanging flag of four stripes (red-white-blue-yellow), with the symbol of the MCV (Mainzer Carneval Verein = Mainz Carnival Association) in the white canton.
According to the text in the German WIKIPEDIA the colours are a mixture of the French colours and the colours of the Catholic church, both to be caricatured this way.
Source: this online newspaper
M. Schmöger, 27 Feb 2006
The season of German carnival, which is mostly celebrated in Catholic areas, starts on 11 November every year, called "old women carnival" (German: Altweiberfastnacht and has its highlight by celebrating a great carnival parade on Rose Monday or Carnival Monday, usually in February or March of the following year. During the parade disguised people are dancing (and drinking) on the pavements of the the streets. The season ends on Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the Lenten Season, which is however not practised very seriously, at least I believe. Being aware of their sins, (especially during the carnival?) the devoties receive a cross of ashes upon their forehead in the church. Inbetween sessions are held, where especially politicians are mocked in the style of a jester, which has not necessarily a jelly cap. Those jesters hold a speech, standing in a big empty barrel.
Mainzer Carneval-Verein (MCV) was established on 19 January 1838 and is one of the oldest carnival associations of the city. Although being mainly a cultural, or if you prefer, social event, I placed it into the sports department, as there is also practised dancing in formation, consisting mainly of females in sexy outfits, often based on uniforms.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 30 Mar 2023
back to other sports flag click here.