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Tens of thousands of German revelers celebrate Rose Monday in strongholds of Cologne and Mainz. For many it's a day which is "more important than Christmas or Easter."

German revelers in the thousands crowded the streets in the carnival strongholds of Cologne and Mainz on Monday to celebrate Rose Monday.

The event marks the beginning of Lent, the fasting period before Easter.

As one reveler put it.

[Rolle, Cologne Reveler]:
"For someone from Cologne, this is the most important day of the year, more important even than Christmas or Easter."

Carnival is celebrated in Germany's predominantly Catholic west and south, with much swaying to traditional ballads and brass bands.

Another prominent carnival stronghold is Dusseldorf.

In the Rhineland-Palatinate state capital Mainz, one of the floats passing showed huge puppets portraying French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel sitting on a large euro sign.

Carnival has various origins, stemming from the Roman tradition of slaves and servants being master for a day.

It's also celebrates the onset of spring and ancient Germanic fertility rites.

These rites were later adopted by Christians as a way to usher in the fasting period before Easter.