hailing the president and mocking the chancellor

picture source: ap

as federal employees in the united states enjoyed a day off at home, germans -- especially in the rhine river region -- took to the streets.

by chance presidents day in the united states -- alternatively also called washington's birthday or washington and lincoln day -- fell on the same day which this year highlights the german carnival season on Rosenmontag, rose monday or shrove monday.

there is no such thing as a chancellor day in germany. but the huge, bold, and colorful floats in the typical Rosenmontagsumzug [rose monday parade or procession] traditionally devote a lot of attention to the chancellor and fellow politicians.

in carnival strongholds such as cologne, düsseldorf, and mainz, current chancellor angela merkel was shown naked reaching for a shiny data disk with lists of tax sinners in the mouth of a serpent. on another one, with a sour face she carried in her arms her limb coalition husband and current german secretary of state guido westerwelle into an empty honeymoon suite. yet another one showed her teaching first graders how best to make debts.

a leftist leader was shown beheaded and labelled brainless. another one of his kind was riding a red skeleton into the ground.

italians prime minister silvio berlusconi was depicted as sexually serviced by the mafia on one wagon and breast-stroking through a sea of pink tits on another. always with a big grin. not to forget: u.s. president barack obama came along as a fallen angel. up side down on his head with wings spread wide, he turned from the liberator [Erlöser] to loser.

the crowd watching the parades endured the coldness. some parades even considered not to run because of the icy conditions. but in addition to being entertained by flippant political culture formed into card board, people also traditionally enjoy free sweet treats thrown from the floats.

people dressed as clowns, bikers, bees, just painted their faces and donned a wig, and greeted each other with alaaf and helau!

rose monday is not a federal holiday in germany but it sure feels more like one (even just following events on the Internet) than the officially declared celebration of the president here.

photos from the parade in düsseldorf

photos from the parade in mainz

photos from the parade in cologne