Zella-Mehlis: Storming of the town hall 2025 – fools conquer the key!

Zella-Mehlis: Storming of the town hall 2025 – fools conquer the key!

Today, November 11, 2025, the fools in Zella-Mehlis were allowed to demonstrate their power. Storming the town hall is a tried and tested custom that not only makes the hearts of citizens beat faster, but also upholds the tradition of carnival. This year, mayor Torsten Widder, himself a member of the Mehliser Carneval Club (MCC), ceremoniously handed over the town hall key to the carnivalists after more than 20 years. At 3:11 p.m. the time had come and the fools from Zella-Mehlis, Benshausen and Messina stormed the town hall - four hours later than usual, but that didn't dampen the good mood.

The celebration opened with a warm welcome that offered rich delicacies such as sausages, fatty breads, Mettbrötchen, donuts as well as a tasty selection of sparkling wine and beer. The social gathering encouraged the citizens to live out the foolish customs. Mayor Widder expressed concerns about possible damage to the town hall, but was pleased with the merry goings-on and let the fools have their way. His remark that he would be happy to hand over the key aptly referred to the nationwide tradition of carnival, whereby “fun and amusement” now had priority, not least because of the strained budget situation. The MCC aptly emphasized that, even if there are differences between the clubs, the folly always unites.

A new beginning for the foolish times

The carnival season in Zella-Mehlis has started and the town, with the town hall in the hands of the fools, will now be transformed into a stronghold of foolish activities. The storming of the town hall, carried out for the first time by the Sandhasen, is not only a highlight of local events, but a sign of the community's cohesion. As the regional association of Thuringian carnival clubs stated, Zella-Mehlis is firmly on the map of the Thuringian carnival.

The tradition of carnival has deep roots that go back to ancient times. Different regions of Germany, such as the Rhineland and Swabia, celebrate the foolish festival in very different ways. In the Rhineland, where the carnival hustle and bustle is particularly flourishing, the Cologne Rose Monday procession and the bright hustle and bustle that precede it are the most prominent events. Dressing up and throwing camels (candy) are also a must here. In comparison to Protestant places, where carnival has only been popular for 30 years, the tradition has been kept alive here for centuries.

Fascination of carnival

Carnival is not only a cultural festival, but also an expression of sociability and community. Whether in Cologne with the battle cry “Alaaf” or in Düsseldorf with “Helau” – the different regions each bring their own charm into play. Carnival is full of handmade costumes, humorous songs and the irrepressible urge to leave everyday life behind. A cheerful breeze is now blowing in Zella-Mehlis, combining both old and new traditions and making the city even more of a carnival stronghold in Thuringia.

One thing is certain: the storming of the town hall is not just a celebration, but also an important event for the community, which clearly demonstrates the collegial civic spirit and the joy of achieving prosperity and togetherness. The moving day is fittingly concluded with the traditional singing of hymns and exuberant celebrations. The fools have taken over the town hall - here's to a foolish year!

For those who would like to delve deeper into the traditions and customs of Carnival, there are a variety of events in the coming weeks. Zella-Mehlis definitely won't stand still for the next few days! insuedthueringen.de offers exciting insights while zella-mehlis.de and alumniportal-deutschland.org provide further background on this fascinating custom.