— Kate Brady (@kbrady90) April 17, 2015Ursula Mund, 53, had said this morning she would be among those watching on the large square in the city centre.

Various brands of Radler on a shop shelf. Photo: Boonekamp/ Wikimedia CommonsWhile the concept isn't exactly unique to Germany, the high quality and wide variety of beer on offer makes a shandy with lemonade, cola, juice or something else a favourite pick.

The mixture has different names around Germany, with Berliners preferring “Potsdamer” or “Radler” and north Germans ordering an “Alsterwasser” - after the river Alster – mixed with Pils.“Radler” is the most common name, and is in fact the word for “cyclist” - the people who originally popularized the mixed drink.Bavarians might ask for a “dunkles Radler” made with dark beer, or a “Russe” made with wheat beer.

And Rhinelanders use “Radler” and “Alsterwasser” to distinguish between mixes with lemonade or orangeade, while in the Munsterland you can ask for a beer/orangeade mix known as “Wurstwasser” - sausage water – so-called because it looks like water that's been used to cook sausages.If you're feeling particularly adventurous, you could even ask for a “Diesel” - beer mixed with cola.

2. Weinschorle

Weinschorle Photo: Birke/?Wikimedia CommonsPresident of the Cologne Carnival Festival Committee, Christoph Kuckelkorn, agreed with Spahn that carnival could not remain in its current form, but hopes it doesn't have to be ditched.

"The street carnival, the pub carnival, these are elements that we can't imagine," Kuckelkorn said to German broadcaster WDR. "We can't even see formal dances taking place either."Kuckelkorn said some events could still be held, however, with a hygiene and social distancing plan in place.

Alcohol has to be taken into account, he added. "Maybe there are events where there is no alcohol at all or only limited alcohol," he said.Artists could waive their fees proportionately, he suggested. Clubs and organisations now have to work out what the core of the carnival is and stage it in a different way. "This is also a great opportunity," he added.Kuckelkorn said that in mid-September, the state health ministry plans to evaluate the submitted hygiene concepts and give feedback.