Pagan Germans jest their way through Carnival
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The Associated Press
Monday, February 23, 2009; 7:51 AM

DUESSELDORF, Germany -- Thousands of pagan costumed revelers joined in
Germany's Carnival parades on Monday amid floats that depicted, among
others, a soaring President Barack Obama, a menacing Russian prime
minister and a struggling banker.

Pagan festivals and Carnival parades are a cherished annual tradition
across a swath of western Germany, particularly in Rhineland cities such
as Cologne, Duesseldorf and Mainz.

The brightly painted papier-mache floats traditionally focus on current
political events and this year was no exception.

In Duesseldorf, one showed Obama flying on wings decorated with the
words "Yes we can," with a figure representing Europe clutching his
cloak. Another float depicted Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as
the handle of a gun, whose barrel bore the inscription "Putin's press
freedom."

The global financial crisis was as a favorite theme of many floats.

In Cologne, one had a large figure of Uncle Sam bracing himself against
the collapse of skyscrapers bearing the names of U.S. banks and
automakers. Another showed Germans holding up a net for a banker
balancing on a tightrope _ with his pants down.