Weiberfastnacht

Traditionally, women would dress up as old ladies, hand the housework and children over to the men, and celebrate among themselves – a practice that gave rise to the Möhnenvereine (women's carnival clubs). In Cologne, the custom traces back to the so-called Mötzenbestot of the market women at the Alter Markt in the 18th century: on the stroke of noon, the women would tear their bonnets (Mötz) from their heads and hurl them – sometimes along with cabbages – into the crowd. In the Bonn district of Beuel, washerwomen banded together in 1824 to form the Altes Damenkomitee von 1824 e. V. in order to take part in what had until then been an exclusively male carnival; to this day, the Beuel Laundress Princess storms the town hall with her committee in a ceremony broadcast live by WDR. The cutting off of men's ties – a symbol of male authority – has been widespread since the mid-20th century; those who lose their ties receive a consolatory kiss in return. The Essen District Court ruled that cutting a tie without prior consent can constitute damage to property – though it noted that consent may be implied if a person takes part in the carnival festivities and ought to be familiar with the custom.