Be careful when choosing your costume: If you choose the wrong outfit at carnival, you have to expect high penalties.
It becomes critical with fake weapons and uniforms, for example.
Stuttgart - It doesn't matter whether it's the carnival parade, the exuberant Shrove Monday party or the traditional ceremonial meeting in the club: A good costume is simply part of the fifth season.
There are almost no limits to creativity.
But only almost: If you wear the wrong costume, you may have to pay a fine of 10,000 euros, as
BW2
4 summarizes.
Fake Weapons: Realistic replicas can cause panic
It is not forbidden to go to the costume ball with a water pistol or another obviously fake firearm.
However, it becomes critical if the dummy resembles a real weapon too much.
According to Article 42a of the German Weapons Act, a sham weapon carried in public is considered an administrative offense that can be punished with a fine of up to 10,000 euros.
The reason: Overly realistic replicas of pistols, rifles and other firearms could cause public panic.
Uniforms: Dressing up as a police officer or firefighter has its pitfalls
Dressing up as a police officer can also be problematic at carnival, reports 24RHEIN.
The imitation of a fireman or SEK officials also harbors pitfalls.
Here it is important to ensure that the costume bears no resemblance to a real uniform.
Confusion with real officials or rescue workers should be ruled out.
The background to this rule is Article 132 of the Criminal Code, which prohibits the misuse of titles, job titles, uniforms or badges.
It becomes problematic when someone suggests that they hold an official position by wearing a costume that is too realistic, thereby misleading those seeking help.
Violations can be punished with fines or imprisonment.
Inciting costumes: Nazi disguises, swastikas and the like are strictly prohibited
An absolute no-go are also costumes that show signs of unconstitutional organizations.
These include, for example, right-wing extremist symbols such as swastikas, disguise as Adolf Hitler and other signs of National Socialist ideology.
Certain anti-constitutional abbreviations are also punishable.
This includes, for example, WP (“White Power”), the motto of the Ku Klux Klan, which stands for the desired supremacy of the “white race”.
The abbreviation SGH (“Sieg Heil”), which is associated with the Hitler salute, is also strictly prohibited.
Violations of the ban are punishable by fines or imprisonment of up to three years.
Tight disguises: Too much bare skin will be punished
Those who like to travel freely should be careful.
Because if a costume doesn't cover enough skin, it can be seen as an act of exhibitionism or public indecency.
According to Articles 183 and 183a of the Criminal Code, such an infringement is punishable by a fine or imprisonment of up to one year.
Masking ban: Mask off at the wheel
Be careful when driving to the carnival party: there has been a ban on face coverings in Germany since 2017.
This sometimes states that the face must be recognizable in traffic.
For example, it would be problematic if someone was photographed masked by a speed camera or if they caused an accident.
The insurance company can then reject a claim or reduce the claims.
Violating the ban on masking costs 60 euros.
So if you decide to wear a mask, for example a character from series like “Heist of Money” or “Squid Game”, you should urgently take it off when driving to the event.
At the celebration itself, it is no longer a problem to be masked, since traditional festivals such as carnival or Halloween are exempt from the ban on masks.
Dressing up as an Indian: Not forbidden, but increasingly criticized
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Although not forbidden, but not so popular with some people at the moment: the Indian costume.
(symbol photo)
© IMAGO/Christoph Hardt
There is no legal ban on Indian costumes in Germany.
Nevertheless, for several years during the carnival season, the debate has been boiling up again and again as to whether the costume classic is still up to date.
In some kindergartens, disguises are no longer popular.
The reason: It is sometimes perceived as problematic when people appropriate the culture of the indigenous peoples of America and ridicule them with funny costumes.
Indigenous people from Stuttgart recently confirmed to the
SWR
that they would perceive such disguises as a "sign of disrespect".
List of rubrics: © IMAGO/Christoph Hardt
