Days of Africa, Heidelberg

Afrikatage - days of Africa, launched on June 11th in Heidelberg and Mannheim, focused our attention on African cultures and problems.  Against this year’s WM in South African Republic, the time is perfect to let the people know once more what Africa is in all the diversity of the continent.
At the festival one can taste African food; choose the most desirable from the ocean of colourful hand-made jewellery and interior decorations, each of them different from the other, carrying a special meaning; dance under the rhythms of African drums and enjoy the show of Egyptian belly-dance.

Parade der Kulturen 2010, Frankfurt – Part 2

One of the climaxes of the parade was the large Bolivian dance group. As they entered the ......... square jumping under the beats of the tribal drums, the audience was hypnotized  by their energy and colours! Bolivia presented the ancient folk dance - Tobas.
The people of Toba used to  perform it on religious parties dressed in wilderness costumes. Nowadays it is danced at different times and in very long streets.

Parade der Kulturen 2010, Frankfurt – Part 1

Representatives of one-hundred-and-seven different nations living in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, cheered through the streets of the city on June 26th to express their cultural identity and offer a magnificent show of colours, costumes, music, dance.  The capital of Hessen hosted its seventh annual Parade of Cultures.

Fasching Carnival in Frankfurt am Main - February, 2010

If you are an elegant respectful gentleman who happened to be on a business trip in Germany at the end of January until the mid-February, do not be surprised if on one ice-cold snowy Thursday a strangely dressed woman of a ‘Balzac Age’ runs up at you screaming. Beware! Even though you might manage to read out a jolly smile through her heavily smeared make-up, check if she is holding a pair of sharp scissors in her hand. And if she is… run!

‘Die Wieberfastnacht’ or the ‘Women’s Carnival Day’ is a Thursday a week before the long Christian Lent. On this day ladies become untamed and demonstrate the disobedience by cutting off neckties from men (tie is then a symbol) and giving kisses to the scared male.
The Women’s Carnival Day marks the beginning of the 6-day climax period of the ‘Karneval’ season which starts on 11th November at 11.11 a.m. every year.