It's carnival season in Germany, with Rosenmontag, the Monday before Ash Wednesday, on March 3 marking the high point. On Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed members of German carnival societies for a reception at the Chancellery in Berlin, where she enjoyed a dance performance by Liana Wolf and entertainment provided by others. Millions gather in cities across Germany -- particularly in Cologne, Düsseldorf and Koblenz, but also in smaller towns -- to celebrate the extravagant festival each year with costumes and parades.