Carnival of anti-Semitic tropes goes ahead despite criticism
February 23, 2020
Israel urged Belgium to ban the traditional Carnival parade, which featured floats depicting caricaturistic images of Orthodox Jews. The mayor of Aalst defended the festivities, saying "it is not an anti-Semitic parade."
The yearly Carnival parade in the streets of Aalst, Belgium with participants costumed as insects and Orthodox Jewish caricaturesImage: picture-alliance/dpa/BELGA/J. A. Gekiere
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Anti-Semitic tropes on display at centuries-old Carnival
03:08
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The Belgian city of Aalst went ahead with its traditional Carnival parade on Sunday, despite calls from Israel to ban the event over its anti-Semitic floats and costumes.
This year's parade included participants dressed in costumes of caricaturistic Jewish stereotypes, with some wearing hooked noses, insect costumes, and exaggerated outfits meant to depict Orthodox Jews. One of the floats also included three Jewish caricatures placed alongside gold bars. Some revellers were also dressed in costumes meant to represent Nazi officers.
Lawmakers in the European Parliament had urged officials in Aalst to make sure this year's parade was free from "manifestations of hatred."
Earlier this week, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called on the Belgian government to ban the "hate-filled" parade altogether.
The city's Carnival parade lost its UNESCO cultural heritage status last year over the "recurrence of racist and anti-Semitic representation." Revelers then dressed in Nazi costumes, making fun of the move.
Mayor defends parade
The city's mayor dismissed criticism and calls for a ban on the festivities, saying "let Aalst be Aalst."
"This is not an anti-Semitic parade," Mayor Christoph D'Haese told reporters on Sunday. "Aalst is not an anti-Semitic city."
D'Haese, of the right-wing nationalist New Flemish Alliance party, added that the goal of the parade is "not to hurt anyone."
City authorities have repeatedly defended the parade as an expression of free speech and saying the costumes and floats are intended to be "satirical."
The US Holocaust Museum tweeted "24,000 Jews living in Belgium were murdered in the Holocaust. Today, deadly anti-Semitism is on the rise again throughout Europe. Events like the Aalst Carnaval parade that promote anti-Semitism and stoke hatred and potentially violence must be denounced by all segments of society."
One of this year's floats featured Orthodox Jews next to gold barsImage: picture-alliance/dpa/BELGA/N. Maeterlinck
Sunday's parade in Aalst also took place despite the threat of strong winds gusting up to 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph). Several other Belgian cities postponed or canceled their parades due to the severe weather.
The Aalst Carnival celebrations, which are more than 600 years old, were given UNESCO cultural heritage status in 2010. Last year's parade prompted a wave of criticism from the EU and from Jewish groups after a float included Jewish caricatures with bags of money that were surrounded by rats.
According to the World Jewish Congress, Belgium is home to a small Jewish community of around 30,000 people out of the country's total population of 11 million.
Every year on 11/11, at 11:11 a.m., costumed people storm the town halls and symbolically take power for the coming weeks. It marks the beginning of the carnival season, which Germans also call the "fifth season."
Image: dapd
The significance of all those elevens
Since the Middle Ages, the number 11 has stood for excess and sin. A number with repeated digits is known as a "Schnapszahl" (schnapps number) in German. Fortunately, this year, carnival revelers don't have to heed coronavirus safety regulations, meaning they can party and enjoy themselves just like in the old days.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/F. von Erichsen
The Hoppeditz awakens
This jester-like figure is typical of Düsseldorf. At 11:11 a.m. on the dot, the Hoppeditz climbs out of a mustard pot in front of the town hall and heralds the start of the fifth season.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/F. Gambarini
The Cologne triumvirate
Cologne's Carnival triumvirate — known as the Kölner Dreigestirn — conisting of a virgin, prince and farmer assumes regency over all fools. They are invited as guests to various events during carnival season.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/O. Berg
Swollen heads in Mainz
Mainz carnival season opens with cries of "Helau." These typical giant papier-mache heads called "Schwellköppe," or "swollen heads," are always part of the big procession.
Image: Reuters/R. Orlowski
Carnival in Cottbus
Rumor has it that carnival is celebrated only in western Germany. But the eastern German city of Cottbus proves that's not the case. On 11/11, the dancers known as Funkenmariechen kick up their heels and the mayor hands over the key to the city.
Image: dapd
Carnival stage shows
After the raucous beginning of the carnival season on 11/11, things quiet down during Advent. But in the new year, revelers turn up the volume again: the carnival societies invite people to their large stage shows and balls.
Image: picture alliance
Weiberfastnacht
On Weiberfastnacht, Old Wives' Day, carnival really gets into gear. On Thursday before Shrove Monday — at 11:11 a.m., of course — women storm the town halls. The street carnival takes off and revellers party on the streets and squares. The six "crazy days" begin.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/H. Galuschka
Smooching
Of course, men can also party along on Weiberfastnacht, but they should watch out: traditionally women chop off their neckties. Still, at least they get a "Bützchen," or "little kiss," in exchange, as a sign that it's all in good fun.
Image: Reuters/T. Schmuelgen
Rose Monday
The parades on Rose Monday, or Shrove Monday, are the highlight of the carnival season, especially in the Rhineland cities. Thousands of onlookers line the streets to watch the themed floats go by, while revelers on the floats throw flowers and sweets to the crowd.
Image: Reuters/R. Orlowski
Swabian-Alemannic Fasnet
The hand-carved masks are already an unmistakable sign that carnival in southwestern Germany differs from that on the Rhine. The large processions on Shrove Monday and Tuesday are called Narrensprünge — literally "fools' jump." Participants hop and jump through the streets. Rottweil's Narrensprung is famous.
Image: picture alliance/dpa
Ash Wednesday
The Hoppeditz opens the carnival season in Düsseldorf and also ends it. Traditionally the roguish figure is burned in effigy or buried in a coffin on Ash Wednesday amid weeping and wailing. It's coupled with the hope that the Hoppeditz will rise again and usher in the "fifth season" the next time November 11th rolls around.
