Mainz Carnival 2025: Thousands of fools celebrate a foolish start!

Mainz Carnival 2025: Thousands of fools celebrate a foolish start!

On November 11, 2025, Carnival in Mainz began with a colorful start that attracted many fools and onlookers to Schillerplatz. At 11:11 a.m. sharp, the gates to the fifth season opened and around 9,000 costumed participants celebrated the first moments of the foolish time. Representatives of the Mainz Freischützen-Garde and the Mainz Hussar Guard ensured a celebratory setting at the opening with the reading of the foolish Basic Law. Mayor Nino Haase also gave a rousing speech, marking the official start of countless celebrations.

Schillerplatz was hermetically sealed and access was limited to a maximum of 9,000 people to ensure that everything ran smoothly. However, this didn't stop the party-loving people from streaming into the city center dressed as clowns, pirates and Funkenmariechen. The atmosphere was exuberant and the air was filled with the traditional carnival cries of “Helau!”. Music groups ensured that every foot tapped in time with the music.

Tradition and fun

The Mainz carnival has a tradition going back almost 200 years and is considered an important part of Rhenish culture. She is known for her humor, the stirring music and the political satire, which is often used in the carnival parades. The celebrations will continue in the coming weeks and there is great anticipation for further events, which are already very popular in the region.

The festivities are also reminiscent of other Mardi Gras traditions, such as the Pennsylvania Dutch, who maintain their own delicious version of the festivities. In Pennsylvania, Shrove Tuesday is celebrated as Shrove Tuesday, a time to prepare for the upcoming Lent with heavy eating. On this occasion, the famous Fasnacht pastry is prepared, which is made from potato flour and eggs and is traditionally fried. In the preparations for Carnival Day, breakfast is often eaten, with homemade Fasnachts waking up the family.

A taste of home

The Pennsylvania Dutch place great value on culinary traditions, which cannot be missed at these festivals. Fasnachts are not to be confused with donuts as they are denser and heavier, usually without holes and often square or triangular in diameter. Variations such as powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar are just as popular as the filled version of the delicious pastry. The production of this specialty goes back to immigrants from southern Germany who came to Pennsylvania in the 17th and 18th centuries and maintained their customs there. At many churches and bakeries in south-central Pennsylvania, Mardi Gras is an annual highlight.

The Mainz carnival and the traditions of the Pennsylvania Dutch show how cultural customs are passed on from generation to generation and are always reinterpreted. Regardless of whether in Mainz or Pennsylvania, the upcoming enjoyment and joy that will be experienced together in the celebrations are the focus and connect people.