The Schwellkoepp (big heads made of papier mache) from the Mainz Carnival Association moving through the crowd in Mainz, Germany. The carnival season starts each year on Nov 11 at 11.11am and ends on Ash Wednesday of the following year. It is one of the largest carnivals in Germany and has an unusual emphasis on political and literary humour and commentary, where politicians' misadventures are mercilessly satirised.