Hundreds of international delegates at a conference in Dusseldorf were warned to watch out for women with scissors if they ventured onto the streets because housewifes play pranks on men by cutting off their ties, compensating the bereft wearers with kisses. In Cologne the carnival has a special day in February 4 and this year will take place under heightened security following mass assaults on women on New Year’s Eve when 434 complaints for sex crimes were registered. “Many ask the question: What will happen during carnival? What is going to happen once carnival is over to make our Cologne safer? There is one very clear answer: Cologne will act. And not only during carnival,” Mayor of Cologne, Henriette Reker said.