Cologne Carnival in Minsk (in pictures)
A German carnival took place on February 8 in the Belarusian capital. It was organized by the German Embassy in Minsk for the second year in a row. The Cologne Carnival was attended by members of the German Dyaspora in Belarus and Belarusians partner organizations.
The European Radio for Belarus talked to Fried Nilson, a deputy head of the German diplomatic mission in Minsk, about the tradition of the Cologne Carnival.
- Mr Nilson, could you please tell us about this holiday?
- This carnival is usually celebrated in the cities on River Rein: Meinz, Dusseldorf... The carnival is staged there since the birth of the god, because it is a Catholic fest.
- How many times did the carnival take place in Belarus?
- We organized for the first time last year in the framework of the Days of the German Culture in Belarus. People were so exited that they kept calling me to ask if the carnival will be held again. So, we decided to organize it again this year and next year.
- Next year only?
No, always. The carnival will be organized as along as I live in Belarus (laughs).
- What is common and different between a carnival in Germany and in Minsk?
- There is a somewhat crazy German music. We have invited DJs from German. It is a unique music. There can be no German carnival without the German music. The difference is that there are no debates during the carnival in Belarus. It is very popular in Germany to make jokes about politicians, Angela Merkel, for example. It is not here.
- Why?
- Because nobody understands German (laughs).
- How many Belarusian Germans are there today?
- There is a total of 300 guests, some 100 Germans together with Austrians and Swiss.
Фота Віталіны Грахоўскай
The European Radio for Belarus talked to Fried Nilson, a deputy head of the German diplomatic mission in Minsk, about the tradition of the Cologne Carnival.
- Mr Nilson, could you please tell us about this holiday?
- This carnival is usually celebrated in the cities on River Rein: Meinz, Dusseldorf... The carnival is staged there since the birth of the god, because it is a Catholic fest.
- How many times did the carnival take place in Belarus?
- We organized for the first time last year in the framework of the Days of the German Culture in Belarus. People were so exited that they kept calling me to ask if the carnival will be held again. So, we decided to organize it again this year and next year.
- Next year only?
No, always. The carnival will be organized as along as I live in Belarus (laughs).
- What is common and different between a carnival in Germany and in Minsk?
- There is a somewhat crazy German music. We have invited DJs from German. It is a unique music. There can be no German carnival without the German music. The difference is that there are no debates during the carnival in Belarus. It is very popular in Germany to make jokes about politicians, Angela Merkel, for example. It is not here.
- Why?
- Because nobody understands German (laughs).
- How many Belarusian Germans are there today?
- There is a total of 300 guests, some 100 Germans together with Austrians and Swiss.
Фота Віталіны Грахоўскай
