The six-day festivities kicked off on Thursday - bringing euphoric mayhem to the streets of the towns and cities of the Rhineland. As is tradition, many women tried to cut the ties off the men and general tomfoolery took over otherwise ordered cities. In Dusseldorf the women stormed the Town Hall and, after brief resistance, the gallant Mayor capitulated after being overwhelmed with kisses - throwing open the doors to the Town Hall and declaring Carnival officially open.

With a boisterous "Alaaf" the city of Cologne also rang in Carnival, where a spectacle of skiing clowns frolicked in front of the famous Cologne Cathedral.

The official festivities across the Rhineland culminate with a costume parade on Monday - followed by a little more mayhem on the Tuesday - after which Rhinelanders are supposed to return to Catholic stricture and fast for six weeks (or, more likely, sleep for six weeks).

The modern Carnival tradition in the Rhineland dates back to 1823, although each city, town and village in the region enjoys its own unique Carnival traditions.

ey/jt (dpa, afp)