Düsseldorf is a modern city. And yet, it cherishes its century old traditions of which numerous festivities are an integral part. For as true Rhinelanders, the Düsseldorfers joyfully seize every opportunity for celebrating.
Cartwheeling The custom of cartwheeling goes back to 1288 when Düsseldorf was given its town charter after the Battle of Worringen, and the children cartwheeled for joy. Today you can still see young cartwheelers in the Old Town and along Königsallee, where they will show visitors their skills for 'eene Penning' (one penny).
Cartwheeling Tournament on June 10th 2001, Alde Düsseldorfer
info phone +49(0)211 32 22 50
fax +49(0)211 32 22 27
Karneval Along with Cologne and Mainz, Düsseldorf is one of the strongholds of Rhenish carnival. Between the 11th November and Ash Wednesday, more than 600 carnival sessions and fancy dress balls take place.
Here are some of the highlights: Hoppeditz' Erwachen (11.11. at 11.11 a.m.)
The carnival begins in front of the town hall with Hoppeditz' tomfoolery about the politics of the town hall. Altweiberfastnacht (Thursday before Ash wednesday)
The women of the town besiege the town hall, street carnival in the Old Town. Karnevalssonntag (Sunday before Ash wednesday)
informal and colourful street carnival along Königsallee. Rosenmontagszug (Rose Monday Parade, Monday before Ash wednesday)
The highlight: An enormous carnival procession of people and decorated floats goes around the whole town centre. Kamelle (sweets) are thrown from the floats to the numerous spectators.
St. Martin’s Evening November 10th remembers St. Martin, the Roman legionary who, as legend has it, shared his coat with a beggar who was cold. At nightfall, hundreds of children all over town join in torchlight processions, when the streets of the city are lit up by the usually home-made lanterns. Highlight of each procession is the sharing of the coat, enacted in a particularly impressive way in front of the town hall in the old town. As for the grown-ups, their special treat during these days is the traditional dinner of ‘Martinsgans’ (roast goose).
The biggest fun fair on the Rhine Every July, the Sankt-Sebastianus marksmen's guild of 1316 celebrates its traditional local festival on the Rhine meadows at Oberkassel. Aside from the historic marksmen's parade, the main attraction is the biggest funfair on the Rhine with its 330 stalls which attract more than 4.5 million visitors annually. At the end of the nine day spectacle there is a big fireworks display on Friday (July 20th, 2001) after nightfall.
Organisation:
Allocation of places:
Fax +49(0)211 - 47 95 945
Christmas Markets From November 22nd to December 23rd, 2001, a tempting fragrance of mulled red wine, roast chestnuts and almonds lingers in the streets of Düsseldorf. Festive lights sparkle on the Christmas markets in the Altstadt and on Schadowplatz. Thousands of visitors are enchanted by a colourful range of Christmas presents, culinary delights and merry entertainment.
Cartwheeling The custom of cartwheeling goes back to 1288 when Düsseldorf was given its town charter after the Battle of Worringen, and the children cartwheeled for joy. Today you can still see young cartwheelers in the Old Town and along Königsallee, where they will show visitors their skills for 'eene Penning' (one penny).
Cartwheeling Tournament on June 10th 2001, Alde Düsseldorfer
info phone +49(0)211 32 22 50
fax +49(0)211 32 22 27
Karneval Along with Cologne and Mainz, Düsseldorf is one of the strongholds of Rhenish carnival. Between the 11th November and Ash Wednesday, more than 600 carnival sessions and fancy dress balls take place.
Here are some of the highlights: Hoppeditz' Erwachen (11.11. at 11.11 a.m.)
The carnival begins in front of the town hall with Hoppeditz' tomfoolery about the politics of the town hall. Altweiberfastnacht (Thursday before Ash wednesday)
The women of the town besiege the town hall, street carnival in the Old Town. Karnevalssonntag (Sunday before Ash wednesday)
informal and colourful street carnival along Königsallee. Rosenmontagszug (Rose Monday Parade, Monday before Ash wednesday)
The highlight: An enormous carnival procession of people and decorated floats goes around the whole town centre. Kamelle (sweets) are thrown from the floats to the numerous spectators.
St. Martin’s Evening November 10th remembers St. Martin, the Roman legionary who, as legend has it, shared his coat with a beggar who was cold. At nightfall, hundreds of children all over town join in torchlight processions, when the streets of the city are lit up by the usually home-made lanterns. Highlight of each procession is the sharing of the coat, enacted in a particularly impressive way in front of the town hall in the old town. As for the grown-ups, their special treat during these days is the traditional dinner of ‘Martinsgans’ (roast goose).
The biggest fun fair on the Rhine Every July, the Sankt-Sebastianus marksmen's guild of 1316 celebrates its traditional local festival on the Rhine meadows at Oberkassel. Aside from the historic marksmen's parade, the main attraction is the biggest funfair on the Rhine with its 330 stalls which attract more than 4.5 million visitors annually. At the end of the nine day spectacle there is a big fireworks display on Friday (July 20th, 2001) after nightfall.
Organisation:
Allocation of places:
Fax +49(0)211 - 47 95 945
Christmas Markets From November 22nd to December 23rd, 2001, a tempting fragrance of mulled red wine, roast chestnuts and almonds lingers in the streets of Düsseldorf. Festive lights sparkle on the Christmas markets in the Altstadt and on Schadowplatz. Thousands of visitors are enchanted by a colourful range of Christmas presents, culinary delights and merry entertainment.
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Düsseldorf is a modern city. And yet, it cherishes its century old traditions of which numerous festivities are an integral part. For as true Rhinelanders, the Düsseldorfers joyfully seize every opportunity for celebrating.