Culture calendar
March 1, 2011Carnival 2011
Every year, people in Germany's Rhineland celebrate Carnival, aka Mardi Gras, while those in the South call it Fasching, Fasnacht, Fastnacht or Fastelabend. Whatever you call it, though, it's about letting go of all inhibitions in the few days before Lent begins. This year, festivities in Carnival boom towns Cologne, Mainz and Düsseldorf kick off on Weiberfastnacht on March 3, when women traditionally storm city halls and cut off all the men's ties. Then it's party-hardy for six days straight - which means drinking, singing and smooching to your heart's content - until Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent.
Art & Fashion: between skin and clothing
"When art and fashion merge, things sizzle between one's skin and clothing" - that's the motto of the new exhibition at the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg - Wolfsburg's Art Museum. For some time now, fashion designers have been presenting their collections on the catwalks as though they were art installations, or creating their own designs as if they were provocative sculptures. Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg has often devoted exhibitions to the mix of art and fashion, such as the show "Avantgarderobe" (Avant-garde Wardrobe) or "Kunst und Mode von 1900 bis heute" (Art and Fashion from 1900 to Today). Curators José Teunissen and Annelie Lütgens have redesigned the "Art & Fashion" show for Wolfsburg, following its presentation in Rotterdam two years ago. It opens on March 5 and runs through August 7, 2011.
The Mouse hits 40 ...
One of Germany's best-loved TV figures has a birthday to celebrate. The title character from the educational show for kids "Die Sendung mit der Maus" (The Program with the Mouse) will soon be over the hill, turning 40 on March 7. Actually, the clever little cartoon character magnetizes over 1.5 million kids and adults alike for 30 mintues every Sunday morning. After all, many of today's parents grew up with "The Mouse." But the road has been rocky for the furry little critter at times. First airing on March 10, 1971 under a different name, the show stirred controversy, with educators arguing that all TV was bad for kids at such a young age. The "Sendung mit der Maus" has meanwhile become an institution, garnering a multitude of awards. The show's recipe for success? "Taking kids seriously and always working under the assumption that no question is a dumb question," director Armin Maiwald, who has been involved in the show from the very beginning, once said. Several different TV shows throughout the year will pay tribute to the Mouse's 40th birthday in March.
... and Janosch turns 80
Who would believe that Janosch could possibly be turning 80? Indeed, the children's book author and illustrator is celebrating his birthday on March 11. However, the camera-shy elderly gentleman isn't likely to be found in public in Germany. For years now, he's been living in seclusion on the Canary Island of Teneriffa. It's the characters in his children's books, famous around the world, which are normally in the spotlight, like Little Bear, Little Tiger and Tiger-Duck, shown below on their famous "Trip to Panama."
Celebrating literature in Cologne and Leipzig
Cologne is holding its 11th annual lit.COLOGNE literature festival this year, starting on March 16 and lasting for 11 days. As Europe's largest literature festival, 162 different readings and events for adults and children take participants on a literary journey. Writers such as Orhan Pamuk, Richard David Precht, Donna Leon, David Sedaris, Elke Heidenreich, Roger Willemsen and Cees Nooteboom, as well as actors and musicians, are expected to attend.
lit.Cologne has some competition, though, in stealing book lovers' hearts when Leipzig kicks off its Book Fair on March 17. This year, publishers and fair organizers will present the latest trends on the market, while focusing on literature from Serbia and southeastern Europe.
German ECHO Awards
The ECHO, Germany's most prestigious music award, is given in various categories. This year's ceremony will be held in Berlin on March 24. It's similar to the Grammy Awards in the United States, but with national and international musicians and performers vying for prizes, including Pink, Shakira, Phil Collins, Robbie Williams, the late King of Pop Michael Jackson, German stars Lena and Nena, Peter Maffay and Reinhard May, as well as Bon Jovi and Black Eyed Peas.
Author: Conny Paul / als
Editor: Kate Bowen