Golden honor: Cologne craftsmanship shines in gold at the festival

Golden honor: Cologne craftsmanship shines in gold at the festival

On February 21, 2025, the ceremony “Fest in Gold” took place in the Cologne Chamber of Crafts. This honor emphasized the outstanding commitment of numerous personalities who have made a contribution to the craft and Cologne culture. The ministers Ina Scharrenbach and Mona Neubaur received great attention when they were awarded top -class unicator. Scharrenbach, the minister for home, municipal, construction and digitization, received the order "flourishing heart". Neubaur, the deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economics, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy, was honored with the order "where drumming blooms". The order is a symbol of appreciation for its special achievements in the service of society. Henriette Reker, the mayor of Cologne, was also awarded the order "Engagement ring to Cologne", which illustrates the close link between politics and regional identity.

A total of 13 young gold and silversmiths were honored for their creative work, which unicator who had made for the event. This creative achievement put a significant accent on combining tradition and innovation in the craft. The President of the Cologne Chamber of Crafts, Hans Peter Wollseifer, received the order "Carnival in silver". Dr. Erik Werdel, general manager of the Chamber of Crafts, praised the impressive art of craftsmanship and the committed work of the young talents in his speech. The event, which also offered a platform for further insights into the craft, was not only an honor, but also an expression of pride in the created work in the craft.

a competition with deep roots

The "Festival in Gold" competition is supported by an accompanying online campaign that draws attention to the large number of talents associated with the craft. As part of this campaign, the workshops are presented, the trainees, interns and journeyman presented and the entire work process is documented. This year's motto, "Fastelovend - if drumming Aries Blöhe", reflects the foolish time associated with the Cologne carnival. The event itself is the highlight of a series of activities that have recognized the craft and the associated creativity.

The required materials for the competition include written short portraits of the trainees and photos of the manufacturing processes of the unique engineering production. There are no thematic restrictions, which means that there is a broad space for creative forms of expression. This enables talents to optimally present their individual skills and the uniqueness of their work.

Cologne carnival as a cultural heritage

The event took place at a time that is traditionally dedicated to the Cologne Carnival. Rosenmontag, the heart of these celebrations, moves millions of people into the city every year. The origin of the term "Rose Monday" remains controversial, but its cultural importance is undeniable. The first Rosenmontagszug was launched in 1823 and has since developed into one of the oldest and largest carnival trains worldwide, with up to 10,000 participants and 1.5 million visitors.

The colorful cars and music bands that participate as part of the train often address political and social issues. In this festive atmosphere, Kamelle and Strüßjer are thrown into the crowd, which keeps the spirit of the Cologne Carnival alive. This tradition, which is deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of the city, is further strengthened by events such as "firmly in gold" and receives an important place in the collective memory of the Cologne