People celebrate in the streets of Düsseldorf, Germany, during the traditional Rose Monday parade on Monday, February 11. Celebrations for Shrove Monday, the Monday before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent, take many forms in the Christian world, including Mardi Gras and Carnival, and Rose Monday in German-speaking countries.
Germans prepare for Lent —
People celebrate in the streets of Düsseldorf, Germany, during the traditional Rose Monday parade on Monday, February 11. Celebrations for Shrove Monday, the Monday before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent, take many forms in the Christian world, including Mardi Gras and Carnival, and Rose Monday in German-speaking countries.
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A performer is lifted into the air during the Rose Monday parade in Düsseldorf.
Germans prepare for Lent —
A performer is lifted into the air during the Rose Monday parade in Düsseldorf.
PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images
Clowns stand in front of a float featuring a Greek man painting a moustache on German Chancellor Angela Merkel during the carnival parade in Düsseldorf.
Germans prepare for Lent —
Clowns stand in front of a float featuring a Greek man painting a moustache on German Chancellor Angela Merkel during the carnival parade in Düsseldorf.
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People prepare for carnival in the streets of Düsseldorf.
Germans prepare for Lent —
People prepare for carnival in the streets of Düsseldorf.
PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images
A blue attendee shows off his costume at the Springerzug carnival parade in Herbstein, Germany. The Springerzug, literally "jumping parade," is an interpretation of carnival tradition particular to Herbstein.
Germans prepare for Lent —
A blue attendee shows off his costume at the Springerzug carnival parade in Herbstein, Germany. The Springerzug, literally "jumping parade," is an interpretation of carnival tradition particular to Herbstein.
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People jump about at the Springerzug carnival parade,.
Germans prepare for Lent —
People jump about at the Springerzug carnival parade,.
Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images
A man shoots confetti in the air at the carnival in Herbstein.
Germans prepare for Lent —
A man shoots confetti in the air at the carnival in Herbstein.
Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images
People in masks line up on a bench in Herbstein.
Germans prepare for Lent —
People in masks line up on a bench in Herbstein.
Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images
A couple walks through the streets of Düsseldorf's carnival.
Germans prepare for Lent —
A couple walks through the streets of Düsseldorf's carnival.
Juergen Schwarz/Getty Images
Carnival revelers participate in the annual carnival parade in Düsseldorf.
Germans prepare for Lent —
Carnival revelers participate in the annual carnival parade in Düsseldorf.
Juergen Schwarz/Getty Images
A police officer is given candy in Düsseldorf.
Germans prepare for Lent —
A police officer is given candy in Düsseldorf.
Juergen Schwarz/Getty Images
A policewoman in Düsseldorf wears flowers on her jacket.
Germans prepare for Lent —
A policewoman in Düsseldorf wears flowers on her jacket.
PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images
A float featuring Social Democrat Peer Steinbrück, the party nominee for chancellor in the 2013 elections, makes its way along the carnival route in Düsseldorf.
Germans prepare for Lent —
A float featuring Social Democrat Peer Steinbrück, the party nominee for chancellor in the 2013 elections, makes its way along the carnival route in Düsseldorf.
Juergen Schwarz/Getty Images
A costumed man waves to the crowd in Düsseldorf.
Germans prepare for Lent —
A costumed man waves to the crowd in Düsseldorf.
Juergen Schwarz/Getty Images
Carnival revelers participate in Düsseldorf's parade.
Germans prepare for Lent —
Carnival revelers participate in Düsseldorf's parade.
Juergen Schwarz/Getty Images
People gesture from a float in Düsseldorf.
Germans prepare for Lent —
People gesture from a float in Düsseldorf.
Juergen Schwarz/Getty Images
People wearing flags walk in the streets of Düsseldorf.
Germans prepare for Lent —
People wearing flags walk in the streets of Düsseldorf.
PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images
Trash from the Rose Monday carnival celebrations lies in a canal in Düsseldorf.
Germans prepare for Lent —
Trash from the Rose Monday carnival celebrations lies in a canal in Düsseldorf.
MARTIN GERTEN/AFP/Getty Images