Cologne - Burn the Nubbil
Tue 12 Feb 2013
As the final act of the Karneval festival, many Nubbil's go up in smoke all over Koln. Blamed for all the bad behaviour, excess drinking, fornicating, and other misdemeanors, the Nubbil typically watched on outside bars and clubs, hanging from lamp posts, etc. Essentially a straw stuffed doll, gender is apparently optional, though the characture takes on an identity of sorts.
Sanctioned as a official event, a permit is obtained from the local authority to parade the Nubbil as we did around the block, issue some farcical rights by a false Monk in comical prose and then set alight to the some rejoice, and some somber.
For the locals serious about such things, it is the end of the Karneval for the year and the start of 40 days of fasting prior to Easter. Around town this meant that the decorations come down, customes packed away and a return to normal Koln life.
