The Cologne parade, the "Zoch," dates back to the Prussians, who were so taken aback by local excesses on Rose Monday in the early 19th century that they founded a committee to give the chaos a semblance of order. In 1823, the first planned and orderly Rose Monday parade marched around one of the city's major squares. Today, the hours-long event draws a million revelers from near and far.

In Cologne, the trinity of Carnival rulers, the prince, the peasant and the virgin - also called "your loveliness" - are portrayed by men, and always have been. Beards and mustaches have been banned for those playing the virgin, however. Even if women are much more visible in today's Carnival celebrations, people love the fact that the virgin, blowing kisses left and right, is in reality a man.

Initially, women weren't allowed to participate in the fun. Legend has it that a group of women near Bonn founded a ladies' committee in 1824 and decided to take revenge. Ever since, women have been snipping off men's ties on the Thursday before Rose Monday, on Weiberfastnacht ("Women's Carnival"). On that day, German men try to avoid leaving the house wearing their favorite silk tie.

The straw costumes seen above have been a part of the Carnival, or Fastnacht, tradition in parts of southern Germany since the Middle Ages. The meaning of the straw bear is not clear: some say it symbolizes a dancing bear, others argue it symbolizes evil and disaster. Perhaps the straw costumes were a form of punishment - they look quite uncomfortable.

Inflated pigs' bladders, known as "Saublodern," are another odd Carnival accessory, also part of the southern German tradition. Revelers elaborately dressed as jesters wield the bladders hung on a stick to tease people and create a general commotion. Historians say the bladders symbolize Christian mortal sins like vanity and lust.

US President Donald Trump is depicted as a schoolyard bully as Russian President Vladimir Putin watches on.

The cities are never afraid to make fun of themselves. One of the upcoming floats features Cologne Mayor Henriette Reker taking on the German bureaucratic system.

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi is depicted here as the video game character Super Mario, as he takes advantage of the banks and targets European money savers.

In a change of tone, another float looks set to celebrate rather than mock the relationship between Germany and France ahead of the 2017 Ice Hockey World Championships held in Cologne and Paris.

The popular children's cartoon character Bob the Builder is depicted constructing the much-maligned Leverkusener bridge north of Cologne. The project has come under fire from residents because of the slow pace of construction, which is expected to drag on for another few years.

Then-candidate Donald Trump was an easy target at the 2016 Düsseldorf parade.

A 2016 Carnival float in Düsseldorf depicts a group of refugees trapped between the EU and war and terror.

A float shows Russian President Vladimir Putin wielding power throughout Europe via far-right parties in other countries.

Angela Merkel is always a popular subject for Rose Monday parades in Germany. This 2016 Cologne float depicts the chancellor working on the tough nuts she has to crack.

A 2016 float in Düsseldorf features the German federal eagle showing fear as one of its wings burns following attacks on refugee shelters.

This float takes aim at Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A float at the 2016 Cologne parade shows extreme right-wing parties attacking democracy.