The Cologne Carnival reached new heights with its Rosenmontagszug parade on March 3, 2025, as thousands of revelers flocked to the streets, hoping to catch candy and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere. With live coverage from WDR, and commentary from popular hosts Guido Cantz and Sabine Heinrich, this year's celebration showcased not just colorful costumes and festive floats but also biting satire.
One float, particularly, caught eyes with its depiction of public transportation. "What can one say about this float? 'End station: please drop out.' It’s not always so easy," remarked Guido Cantz during his live coverage. This humorous portrayal featured the illustration of a train seemingly entering, well, you get the idea. "The public transport system—it polarizes," Cantz said, highlighting locals' frustrations with Cologne's public transit. "You could also say, public transport is for the ass," he added, with laughter from the audience. On this float, the slogan reading 'Kölner Verkehrswende' drew attention to what's seen as deficiencies within the city’s transport options.
Yet not every float brought about smiles; one garnered significant controversy even before the parade began. A float presenting a priest’s hand beckoning to a young altar boy from behind the curtains of a confessional, adorned with the stark caption "Jesus liebt dich"—“Jesus loves you”—sparked outrage. The CDU and the church were quick to condemn the float. Cardinal Rainer Marie Woelki remarked it went too far to correlate such imagery with abuse allegations against the Church.
Yet the organizers of this float stood firm. "The issue at hand is not the representation, but the abuse itself," asserted Mark Michelske, the parade director. Christoph Kuckelkorn, president of the organizers, echoed similar sentiments, stating, "It is our responsibility to address social grievances. Our community must confront these issues and not shy away from them.” The Eckiger Tisch initiative, advocating for victims of abuse, affirmed this perspective, arguing it was important for the Carnival to address the Church’s historical cover-ups. "The Catholic Church hasfor decades upheld these secrets; it's necessary for Carnival to spotlight such themes,” said their representatives.
The parade also featured familiar faces, like reality TV personalities Carmen and Robert Geiss, who attracted jubilant cheers from crowds as they tossed 'Kamelle' (candies) from their float. "Robert and Carmen are here!" Cantz exclaimed as the Geiss family delighted attendees. Carmen expressed her joy at the lively interactions with carnival-goers, stating, "It's incredible how we can bring happiness just by throwing out 'Kamelle'!”
While the atmosphere was largely festive, some darker realities manifested amid the revelry. Social media buzzed with mixed reactions to videos showing crowded streets, trash buildup, and parties getting out of hand. "It's hard to believe how great this all is, even as we see problems emerge," weather expert Dominik Jung commented on the juxtaposition of joy and chaos.
Despite controversies surrounding certain floats this year, one thing is clear: the Cologne Carnival remains integral to local culture and identity, blending humor with serious societal critiques. With the parade now concluded, the city brims with discussions, reflections, and, undoubtedly, plans for next year’s celebrations.