This last weekend was Pentecost, which meant yet another Feiertag (Monday), the third this month in Berlin. Apparently that is it until Christmas, but as May has been my first month here I have come to expect frequent free days as the norm. The big event of the weekend was the 'Karneval der Kulturen', a four day festival culminating in an enormous street parade starting at Hermannplatz and continuing down Hasenheide Straße. There is a fair amount of hype surrounding the event and it attracts a huge crowd. A lot of Berliners, however, hold the opinion that the Karneval has become a commercialised event that is more about celebrating consumerism than cultural diversity. This cynicism is typical of large events, partly, I think, because they tend to disrupt normal life. As a newcomer, I was less aware of the negative elements of the Karneval and approached the Sunday parade unaware of how it has deteriorated over time. For me it was a colourful and lively event, with a seemingly endless number of participants. There was a general air of enjoyment and appreciation at the effort gone into the floats. Some of the 'cultures' were questionable. I wasn't aware that vegetarianism, roller-blading-disco-hipppies, or electro swing were cultures, (though these were among my favourite floats). Berlin is not a homogenous city, it is populated by people from different cultural backgrounds who are keen to preserve their traditions and identity. Occasions such as this street festival might mask the many problems that come with a multicultural society but at least it is a celebration of difference rather than the usual lamentation.
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