Carnival has begun!

Germany's Carnival week started yesterday with women going around cutting off men's ties. This Thursday tradition is especially practiced in southern Germany and symbolizes women's power. Monday is a big day but the biggest is Tuesday. There are parades on Tuesday in towns and cities all over Southern and mid Germany. The biggest are in Cologne, Mainz and Dusseldorf. Basically all businesses close at noon that day so that their employees can join the fun.