Foolish on the road with the culture and wine ambassador and city guide Cornelia Bärsch-Kämmerer
How big did a Ranzengardist have to be and how heavy is a Schwellkopp? If you are curious about the answer, join me on the carnival tour with culture and wine ambassador Cornelia Bärsch-Kämmerer and discover the historical and amusing background to the fifth season in the Rhine-Hessian carnival stronghold on the Rhine. By the way: carnival attire is permitted, as are swaying and singing along. Let's dive into the Meenzer Fassenacht together and enjoy the carnival season...
Caps, Schwellköpp and Kokolores
Our exploration tour starts at the Klepperbub on Carnival Museumwhich is housed in the large Mainz provisions magazine. This dates back to the time when Mainz was a federal fortress and the Prussians and Austrians were in charge here. What better place than this to house the carnival museum, as the entire carnival is based on a satire of the occupying forces: the Prussians, the Austrians and the French. The museum, which is organized on a voluntary basis, is located in the basement and is open to visitors Tue-Sun from 11 am to 5 pm.
Cornelia Bärsch-Kämmerer takes us straight into the swaying mode of the foolish world with musical accompaniment. There is a lot to marvel at here: jester's caps from all eras, uniforms of the various guards, a chess game with guard figures, Schwellköpp - you can even try them on. Toni Hämmerle's old piano and the cult objects of Ernst Neger and Margit Sponheimer complete the collection.
Hundreds of medals and parade badges from the last 120 Rose Monday parades (since 1837) adorn the display cases and are as colorful and diverse as the carnival itself. A tribute to the well-known carnival greats of the Mainz carnival. One section of the museum is dedicated to the annually changing special exhibition of a Mainz guard. The display case is equipped by the respective Mainz carnival club with special features of their guard, such as the guard uniform. Of course, a portrait of the children's princess of the children's masked ball should not be missing here.
If you would like to know what paper costumes are all about - the carnival specialist will reveal the secret for us and we will immerse ourselves in the old customs of the fifth season. We learn interesting facts about the history of Schwellköpp and can even try them on. The oversized papier-mâché heads (now made of plastic) bear names such as Babett, Butze, Fett Muck, Hannebambel or Goldisch Grottthey symbolize typical Mainz characters. There is still a lot to tell and Cornelia Bärsch-Kämmerer, the culture and wine ambassador, always comes up with a new anecdote.
Now comes the highlight of the museum: Conny takes to the stage, which stands for the political-literary lecture and the "Meenzer Kokolores"! Not only do the owl's eyes light up, no: you can tell straight away that she feels at home here. We enjoy her carnival speech accompanied by her husband's music. Now we have really arrived in the campaign. The exuberant atmosphere spreads to all the participants and the applause is huge. Swaying and singing along is now encouraged.
From Ash Wednesday to Zugplakettsche - foolish customs in Meenz
For those unfamiliar with the fair, there is a need to explain some of the terms used in carnival jargon.
All questions will find an answer during the tour. For example "A" as in Ash Wednesday: "On Ash Wednesday, it's all over...", as the carnival song goes. At the Ash Wednesday service in the cathedral, the ash cross is marked on the foreheads of the faithful. It is a reminder of transience. Ash Wednesday opens the Easter penitential season, the beginning of Lent. And "Z" as in Train plaque: From 11.11. each year, the sale of an annually changing figure from the Mainz carnival begins. This is an old custom that has its origins in the post-war period. The sale finances the Rose Monday parade. The badge is an admission ticket to the street carnival and is proudly worn around the neck and collected by the jesters.
On the trail of fools on a city tour
Now it's on to the city: first some advertising for the neighboring German Cabaret Archive with a cabaret stage and the "Walk of Fame of the cabaret" - It has to be. Just a few meters further on, we meet the Schoppestecher on Schillerstraße. The figure embodies the joy of drinking and joie de vivre of the real Meenzer (Mainzer); in his hand he holds the cylindrical "Mainzer Stange" - the Schoppeglas.
From here, at the end of Schillerstraße, we can already see the most famous monument in Mainz, the Fastnachtsbrunnen fountain from the 1960s. Several groups gather here and immerse themselves in the many stories that revolve around the carnival fountain.
I wonder why the paragraph rider is riding the donkey the wrong way round and his eyes are fixed on the Ministry of the Interior?
Or why the little man with the open wallet is sitting at the foot of the fountain? The three geese are a homage to a Mainz carnival song that every Meenzer probably knows. But what do you think the cat sneaking along the fountain means? I won't reveal that here, the carnival specialist will tell us these secrets on the spot...
On a tour of the state capital, we discover the Guard drummersthe Bajazz and the Satchel Guards. We encounter foolish goings-on everywhere in the carnival stronghold, even outside of the campaign. The little bell in the jester's cap on the Hay column on the cathedral square all year round.
Time flies when we listen to exciting stories. The right time for a cozy conclusion in a historical atmosphere and with the support of the guards - let yourself be surprised and be part of the next tour when it's time again "Mir freie uns" Fassenacht - also for those not attending Mass.
Have fun and three thunderous cheers: HOORAY - HOORAY - HOORAY!!!
Every year again - here are the next dates for 2025
(only with prior registration via https://www.stadtfuehrer-mainz.de ):
- Wednesday: February 19, 2025, 5 p.m.
- Saturday: February 22, 2025, 3 p.m.
- Wednesday: February 26, 2025, 5 p.m.
Additional dates are available for groups on request!
Tips for the foolish days
The best known is probably the Mainz Rose Monday paradeThere is no limit to the party mood here.
If you don't like it quite so lively, you can visit on Sundays after the Parade of the foolish guards admire the floats at the LU (Ludwigstraße in Mainz).
The Shrovetide farce or: Life, love, stress at the Määenzer Mess" - a special way to immerse yourself in the foolish world at the Staatstheater Mainz.
