What D'dorf and Venice have in common

A week ago, when February started, I suddenly realised that there was a word that I hadn't heard or read at all, even though, at this time of the year, it should be a big topic of discussion for many in certain parts of Germany. And the word is 'Carnival'.

In Germany, Carnival culminates in parades on Rosenmontag, "Rose Monday", which takes place one day before Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday), which in turn takes place one day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent.

For many, Carnival is like Marmite in the UK: you love it or loathe it. Some even leave town for the weekend to avoid the crowds of Carnival revellers, all dressed up in fancy costumes - some silly, some inspired - and the effigy-laden floats that wend their way through a pre-determined route through towns. The effigies on the floats often make political statements and the best find their way into the media. People standing on the floats throw sweets (candies) into the crowd, some of whom hold open umbrellas upside down to catch as many as possible before they land on the street. I always think that anyone who lands in Germany for the first time during Carnival must think they've landed in a lunatic asylum when they ride on public transport or walk through the streets and they see clowns, cowboys and human-sized furry animals everywhere. 

Meanwhile in Venice, the revellers look so much classier.

What, however, both Drizzledorf and Venice have in common right now is that Carnival is not taking place. I came across this article in The Guardian two days ago:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/05/carnival-time-in-empty-venice-nobodys-thinking-about-celebrating

This bloody virus is a right downer. I can only imagine that next year's Carnival in D'dorf will be twice as frantic as usual.