Carnival: Carnival 2023 in NRW: dates, events – all information

Soon it will be “Helau” and “Alaaf” again – because carnival stands in front of the door. In many cities in North Rhine-Westphalia, the “fifth season” is celebrated exuberantly.

Carnival 2023 in NRW: These are the dates

The carnival officially begins on Nov. 11 at 11:11 a.m. However, the peak phase always starts at the beginning of the year during the Three Kings (January 6th). the street carnival celebrates its prelude to Altweiber. These are the dates for 2023:

By the way: Although NRW is one of the carnival strongholds in Germany, Shrove Monday is here no holiday. In some other federal states there are school holidays on Carnival 2023. The carnival days are among the festivals that depend on Easter and thus vary from year to year. As the penultimate day before Ash Wednesday falls Shrove Monday always on the 48th day before Easter Sunday.

Mardi Gras or Mardi Gras: Why is it actually celebrated?

The carnival is closely related to the Christian Lent, which traditionally begins on Ash Wednesday – i.e. after the carnival. In Latin, “carne vale” means something like “meat, farewell”. The time before Lent was already used in the Middle Ages to fill one’s stomach and celebrate – this is where carnival came from. The first Shrove Monday carnival parade was celebrated in Cologne in 1825.

Especially in the Rhineland, the fifth season is called “Carnival”, in other regions of Germany the term “Fasching” is more common.

Carnival in NRW: This is the process

The Rhenish carnival starts on November 11th at 11:11 am. That will be in Düsseldorf “Hoppeditz Awakening” celebrated. The Hoppeditz is a symbolic figure and a prankster of the Düsseldorf carnival, who rises from the dead every year. November 11th is the start of the carnival session – that’s when the royal couple will be announced.

the session carnival starts after January 6th (Epiphany) with the ceremonial sessions. On Weiberfastnacht then starts street carnival with processions on the streets of NRW. The carnival session ends on Ash Wednesday.

Carnival in NRW cities: an overview of events

In some NRW cities the first carnival dates start on January 6th. In our overview you will find articles from the cities and districts with some event tips:

Carnival in Bochum:

Carnival in Bottrop:

Carnival in Emmerich/Rees/Isselburg:

Carnival in Essen:

Carnival in Gladbeck:

Carnival in Heiligenhaus:

Carnival in the Hochsauerland district:

Carnival in the district of Olpe:

Carnival in Moers and the surrounding area:

Carnival in Velbert:

Carnival in Wesel/Hamminkeln/Schermbeck:

Carnival in NRW: These are the dates until 2026

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