Storming of the town hall in Suhl: fools conquer the city at the carnival opening!

Storming of the town hall in Suhl: fools conquer the city at the carnival opening!

On November 11, 2025, Suhl marked the start of the carnival season with a magnificent storming of the town hall, which started promptly at 11:11 a.m. Traditionally, the fools gathered in the market square to experience the festive climax of the handover of the keys. Mayor André Knapp only lowered the oversized town hall key to about the height of the town hall portal. An almost impossible task for the presidents of the four carnival clubs - DCV, SCV Ikalla, SCC and ZCC - who were therefore unable to grab the key. Instead, the happy carnival friends, somewhat helpless, had to call the caretaker Holger to open the town hall door. In the meantime, Gunter Hennig and René Saft acted as presenters to keep the atmosphere in front of the around 300 spectators who had gathered at the market square so as not to miss the spectacle.

The atmosphere was characterized by music, dancing and good humor. During the first celebrations of the fifth season, which included many spontaneous stops at restaurants, the anticipation of the crazy days was already palpable. The carnival in Suhl allows people to come together and forget the worries of everyday life. That is exactly the essence of carnival: “Fools take power and everything is turned upside down,” as Rhenish custom traditionally dictates.

The custom of storming the town hall

The town hall storm has deep-rooted traditions that are known in the Rhineland and beyond. The town hall is symbolically occupied by the fools, and the mayor is obliged to hand over the town hall key to the fools, which overrides the usual order. The custom dates back to the 14th century and has evolved over the years. In many regions, the handover of keys is used as a symbolic transfer of power, which marks the beginning of the carnival season. This festival was celebrated lively in Suhl and shows how important this custom is for the community. The fools are not only honored, they also bring humorous social criticism and shape the event with creative speeches.

The humorous speech when handing over the keys, given by a mayor or mayor, is an integral part of the town hall storm. These speeches are usually peppered with humor and charm, but also with a wink towards social issues. The fools show that it is sometimes allowed to question the “normal” order.

A celebration for everyone

The carnival season, which lasts until Ash Wednesday, continues from here and brings with it a variety of other events. The storming of the town hall is just the beginning of a huge festival that brings people together both regionally and nationally. The 11.11. is celebrated in many parts of Germany as the traditional start of carnival and has a special place in people's hearts. In Suhl, this day is duly honored and, with its unique solemnity, sets standards for the days to come, in which the fools will continue to take control of the streets and squares.

Ultimately, the carnival in Suhl shows that there are no differences in being together and in the joy of celebrating, but that we are all part of a colorful spectacle. The return of the fools not only brings happiness, but also the promise of an unforgettable time that will linger in people's hearts for a long time.

For more information and a look back at past vintages and traditions, visit the reports from insuedthueringen.de, redenwelt.de and the comprehensive description Wikipedia.