Karneval, Fasnacht or Fasching in Austria is the time before Lent and it starts on 11.11. 11:11 and ends on Ash Wednesday.
It’s an ancient tradition which is celebrated all over Germany but particularly in the Rhineland, Mainz, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Bonn
On Rosenmontag people dress up in humorous costumes or in traditional dress and masks, and join in processions and street festivals. The tradition stems back to the ancient custom of driving out winter.
HALLI-GALLI – Local expressions:
GERMANY
Thuringia: “Woesinge Ahoi”
Swabian-Alemannic Carnival: “Narri-Narro!”
Cologne – “Alaaf!”
Düsseldorf – “Helau!”
AUSTRIA
Villach – Lei-Lei