Cologne Carnival

The official highlight of the Cologne carnival ("Kölsche Fasteleer") is the Shrove Monday procession that takes place on Shrove Monday. Today, a train usually consists of delegations from the carnival associations with floats, bands, dance groups and floats. The floats usually depict events and people from the past year in a satirically interpreted form.
The official Cologne carnival program is the responsibility of the Cologne Carnival Festival Committee of 1823 e.V., which represents the overall interests of over 100 Cologne carnival societies. This also names the Cologne triumvirate every year. In addition to this organized street carnival, a largely unorganized street carnival takes place in the pubs and streets of Cologne during the "great days".

Cologne triumvirate

The prince, the peasant and the maiden together form the triumvirate. These are the highest representatives of the Cologne carnival. The triumvirate is provided by the carnival societies that belong to the festival committee. As a rule, all three belong to the same company. The Cologne triumvirate as a unit has existed since 1870. A new triumvirate is appointed every year.