Everything You Need To Know About The Bttenrede During Germany's Carnival

Carnival in Germany is such a glorious, momentous event that it is actually referred to as the Fifth Season. This festival kicks off annually on November 11 at 11:11 a.m. on the dot. The main carnival takes place over several days the following February, reaching its climax on Ash Day. It is known by a variety of names in different parts of Germany. It is Karneval in Rhineland, Fasching in parts of Bavaria, Berlin, Saxony and Brandenburg, and Fastnacht in several other parts of Germany. Though the carnival is celebrated in much the same way across the country, each region adds its own special touch, quirks, and rituals to the events.

What is a Büttenrede?

A Büttenrede is a Carnival speech similar to the concept of stand-up comedy. The speech is almost always written in rhymes and is several verses long, and presented from a Bütt, or a barrel-shaped stage.

The Büttenredner

The speaker is known as the Büttenredner. The Büttenredner delivers the entire speech from memory. The speech is sometimes presented by a duo of speakers. The Büttenredner may or may not be in costume. A huge crowd gathers around to listen to the speech, and it is also broadcast on television.

Where is the Büttenrede held?

The Büttenrede is a special feature of Rhineland Carnival. However, in recent times, it is gaining popularity in other parts of Germany, for example, Berlin.

Content of the Büttenrede

The Büttenrede usually assumes a satirical or critical look at society, politics, and the general state of the country and the world. It contains a generous dose of humor and jokes, and is often punctuated by songs. However, it is also scathing, insulting, and ironic, which always draws giggles from the audience. The wine barrel form from which the speech is delivered is blamed for the bitterness in the speaker’s speech. To understand a Büttenrede, a very good grasp on the German language as well as awareness of the recent affairs of Germany and the world are absolutely necessary.

History of the Büttenrede

The tradition of the Büttenrede can be traced back to the medieval times and the concept of Rügerecht, which gave the common man the right to criticize rulers without fear during Lent.

Accomplished Büttenredner

Several men and women have earned fame by penning down memorable and brilliant carnival speeches. Peter Kuhn is an internationally famous, award-winning Büttenredner and has been delighting the audience with his brilliant speeches for years. Maria Heinrich Hoster (1835-1890) from Cologne was a legendary Büttenredner and his speeches are still today considered as classic.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.