http://cdn2.spiegel.de/images/image-188711-galleryV9-bkrd.jpg - I think that this picture sums up the celebrations of Carnival.
http://www.thelocal.de/images/gallery/825/7277.600.398.jpg - Here is a picture of a Carnival float.
Carnival in Germany is called Die fünfte Jahreszeit. In the US, Carnival is celebrated on the night before Ash Wednesday. The Germans have a whole season for Carnival. This was surprising to me, because I really can’t think of Mardi Gras getting spread out over several months. Before I read the articles I didn’t think it was more than a giant bash before giving up fun for spiritual reflection during Lent. Culturally, Carnival reaches way farther back than I expected. I had the feeling that the style of celebrations during Carnival were seeded in ancient pagan ceremonies, however, I didn’t realize that the name itself could be derived from pre-Christian styles of worship and celebration. I thought it simply meant “Farewell to meat,” and had nothing to do with ships and fools.
I think that there will be floats of Greeks crying and begging for more money, and possibly one or two of the Iranian President as a caricature.
