Spark (carnival)
In addition to Prinz, Möhnen , Amazone and others, the spark is another type of actor in the Rhenish carnival . It generally occurs in groups. Several sparks form a lump . In many places there are Funken Corps - as independent associations or as departments of carnival societies . Sparks wear ornate uniforms in flashy colors and with military echoes. The military appearance is satirized .
Historical derivation
The sparks were the old Cologne town soldier to the invasion of the French in 1794. They had red jackets and white pants. The first carnival club to set up a carnival guards during Prussian times were the Kölner Rote Funken from 1823.
In addition to the Cologne city soldiers, Grimm's German dictionary also lists the meaning of funk / finch as a dissolute, bad person (dirt finch is still in use today). According to the description of the Cologne city soldiers, this interpretation is also possible for the names of the troops.
See also
- Sparkmariechen
- Rote Funken (Kölsche Funke rut-wieß vun 1823 eV)
- Blue Sparks (Cologne Spark Artillery from 1870)
- Pink sparks