PRUSSIAN PROPRIETY, RHENISH REVELRY.

Karneval has been under way since Armistice Day, with Milwaukee's German community getting things started during German Fest.  But why the coincidence with Armistice Day?

It started with Napoleon.  From 1801 to 1813, part of the Rhineland was under French administration, and French propaganda bragged on their "Egalität, Legalität, Fraternität," which probably applied to Rhinelanders as much as "Diversity, Equity, Inclusion" applies to Normals.  So, like Normals rephrasing the acronym as "Didn't Earn It," the Rhinelanders made an acronym, "ELF," which they did not put on a shelf ... in German, it's "eleven."

But it was when the Prussians reclaimed the Rhineland on their way to fail to assist Napoleon at Waterloo, that Karneval emerged as that Rhenish rebuke to Prussian propriety.  Masquerade was a proper way to send up the rulers, so why not send up the Pickelhaube set from ... 11 November until Aschermittwoch, with an intermezzo for the Festive Season?  Recall, the illuminated Christmas tree is a German creation.

The main events of late winter commence with Weiberfastnacht, the Thursday preceding Aschermittwoch.

Find yourself a Karneval event, even if it calls itself Fasching or Mardi Gras, and enjoy.