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The townsfolk of Schöllkrippen were reputed to be pranksters,
always ready to poke fun at others.
And so they became known as "Pasquils",
from a word for a type of satirical pamphlet.
The Schölkrippeners themselves embraced this term as a badge of honour,
and never is this more apt than at Carnival season.
Carnival is about turning the tables,
a chance for the ordinary people to rise up and challenge authority.
Behind all the costumes, the goodies for the children, the fun and games,
is biting political satire.
"Too many cooks spoil the broth" proclaims this float
in its critique of government austerity measures.
The leaders of this revolt: the Prince and Princess.
Elected, of course, for a single one-year term.
The people gather in front of the town hall
and call for the mayor, known locally as the "Yellow Emperor", to step down.
The Storming of the Town Hall is a tradition in many places in Germany.
The mayor is symbolically usurped,
the Prince and Princes reigning for the rest of the Carnival season.
It's a form of ritual insult:
the implication is
that we would be no worse off if we were ruled by fools and clowns.
A gentle reminder to those in power
that they rule by consent;
and if they lose that consent, that they are outnumbered.