Germany’s Carnival: Colourful Parades, political satire and controversy Hundreds of thousands celebrated Carnival across Germany in colourful costumes, enjoying candy, flowers and festivities.

Hundreds of thousands of costumed onlookers watched and cheered as Germany’s beloved Carnival parades made their way through city centres on Shrove Monday, the highlight of festivities each year.

(Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP) The end of Germany's famous carnival ... well known for vibrant parades featuring floats with biting satirical themes. Costume-clad revellers took to the streets ...

Large parades in Cologne, Duesseldorf ... float linking Jesus to the church abuse scandal sparked criticism from Germany’s Catholic Church, which called it “tasteless.” ...