Today is Altweiberfastnacht.
At eleven minutes past eleven, the citizens of Meerbusch (especially the women) will be dressed in strange costumes and storming the town hall. They will emasculate the mayor (symbolically, I hasten to add, by cutting off his tie) and oust him from his seat of power. In his place they will install the Hoppeditz, the fool, who will preside over the town for the rest of Karneval.
For good measure, all other men will also have their ties cut off. (It’s a good day to wear the hideous floral item your auntie gave you for Christmas.)
The new town council
After this everyone will present themselves at the local hostelries where they will again set new records in beer consumption, while shouting “Helau!” a lot. Helau is the Karneval greeting in Düsseldorf (not to be confused with Alaaf! which is the greeting in the rival city of Köln).
Cheers and Helau everyone!
Planet Germany 
This is fascinating. I imagine it’s a very old ritual.
I believe its origins go back to the middle ages… not sure what they chopped off before men wore ties though!
I’m coming to Meerbusch next year, it sounds like that’s where all the action is. I didn’t see a single witch, or maimed tie in Stuttgart.