COLOGNE, Germany, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Over 1 million visitors joined the locals in Germany's Cologne city on Monday to celebrate the biggest parade of the carnival, which is known as Rose Monday.
As one of the best-known "street festivals" in Germany, the Carnival parade, dubbed the "fifth season," took place in the city's central area and was attended by 115,000 costumed participants from hundreds of carnival associations.
The participants were dressed in fancy garments, paraded in the city's center and showered onlookers with sweets and chocolates to celebrate Rose Monday.
As a highlight of the Carnival season in Cologne, which kicked off on Nov. 11 last year, the Rose Monday parade started at 10 a.m. local time (0900 GMT) and lasted until around 2 p.m. (1300 GMT).
The carnival dates back to medieval times and is celebrated in many cities in Germany every year.
The Rose Monday parade in Cologne is the country's most famous festival, attracting over 1 million visitors from around the world. ■
