WIf the water in the Rhine were golden wine”: The session chapel of the Kostheim Carneval Association knows how to get the crowd in the right mood. It’s 6:09 p.m. on Altweiber-Thursday, and even before the women’s meeting at the KCV begins, most of the 400 or so guests are singing along to Willy Schneider’s song: “Well, then I’d really like to be a little fish.” Roman Rauch already has that Microphone in hand and looks at the goings-on with a smile. Rauch is a member of the Ginsheimer Altrheingarde, a twelve-member singing group that has dedicated itself to the traditional Mainz carnival with its own songs. The troupe, like many other bands and speakers, has been touring from hall to hall weekend after weekend since the beginning of the year. On this evening alone there are four performances in four locations on the program.
When the Narrhalla March sounds at 6:11 p.m., the Altrheingarde marches through the hall onto the stage. It is one of the most well-known singing groups in the region and they have been performing in Kostheim for years. “Without the Altrheingarde it doesn’t work,” says club president Thomas Gill, “they bring every room in the mood”. The battle cry “Helau” sounds from the throats of cowboys, angels, mermaids, bees and unicorns as they march in, little bouquets fly through the room, which is otherwise a sports hall, but during the carnival season is the home of the Kosthheim Carneval Association.