Carnival Order

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Knight Wolfgang Durgeloh with various carnival medals on the Mülheim Rose Monday procession (with picture markings )

Carnival orders (also "Fastnachtsorden" or "Maschingsorden") are awards that are usually given during a splendid session during Carnival .

history

The history of the Carnival Orders began with the organized Carnival in Cologne. There the Cologne wanted to revolt against the Prussian authorities. Originally, the Carnival Order symbolized a disdain for military behavior and pomp. At that time it represented a parody of the state and military medals, sashes and breastbands of the Prussians.

Old records show that a carnival princess brought a medal with her when she visited in 1824 and was also given a medal in gratitude. Old pictures already show meeting presidents who wore many medals on top of each other.

History was presented as a theme on the medals early on. In the course of time, topics such as politics, local history, buildings, etc. were taken up. But contemporary history was also represented on the medals. Even personalities from church, politics and carnival offered themselves as motifs. The statements of the orders thus vary to this day between ridicule, graphic statement and honor.

Today the order has become an integral part of the carnival and carnivalists in the various carnival strongholds see it as a reward for their commitment in the crazy time. The order, which was initially intended as a parody, has turned its original meaning into the opposite.

In the Rhineland, the carnival medals are often sold by the associations to finance the session. In other parts of Germany they are only awarded for services to the session.

Order classes

Session order

The session medal is specially designed for the year in which it is awarded. It is awarded to active members of a carnival club or local celebrities.

Association medals

The association order is awarded to long-standing active members of an association affiliated to the respective carnival association. Just like the order of the session, it is redesigned every year. Individuals who are members of an association receive this medal every year.

Order of Merit

The Order of Merit is awarded to particularly deserving members of an association affiliated to the awarding carnival association.

Special medals

A special medal is awarded once every year, usually to a selected personality who has met the requirements of the particular medal to a special degree. The award is sometimes made in a regular state act.

Well-known medals

Special orders of merit

The "Golden Fleece", the highest award for fools
  • Till of Franconia
  • According to the Greek legend , the "golden fleece" is the fur of a ram on which Phrixos and Helle fled from their stepmother Ino across the Hellespont. Argonauts , heroes of Greek legend, took the ship Argo to Colchis on the Black Sea under Jason's leadership and, with Medea's help, brought the "Golden Fleece" back to Greece, guarded by a dragon. The "Golden Fleece", the highest Burgundian order since 1429, bestowed by the Habsburgs as heir of the Burgundian Empire in Spain until 1931 and in Austria until 1918, was later adopted by carnival associations as a satirical on the courtly ceremonies before the French Revolution. The award usually goes hand in hand with the accolade.

  • The Golden Flame, Germany's second highest award for merited carnivalists.

  • The silver flame, Germany's third highest award for merited carnivalists

Special medals

literature

  • Achim Feldmann: Mardi Gras and Carnival Order . An introduction. In: Munster Numismatic Newspaper . 34.2 (July 2004), pp. I – VI, 34.3 (October 2004), pp. V – IX (Münzgalerie München, Intermünz-Kurier 154–155).
  • Max-Leo Schwering: Noblesse op plush . Cologne Carnival Order 1823–1914. Ed .: Werner Schäfke. Cologne 1989.

Web links

Commons : Order of Carnival  - Collection of images, videos and audio files