The Venice Carnival is one of the most amazing moments of the year for the Italian, and European, culture. It’s always surprising and curious, with a unique mix of tradition and craziness. It’s something unique, and the challenge is to describe what it is.
I’ll try my best to give you my personal interpretation of this… well, I can’t find right now a synonymous or correct adjective… Yes, it’s simply the Venice Carnival!
The origin of the Venice Carnival
Carnival is an annual Christian celebration that is held before the onset of lent. It is a commemoration that involves some sort of public celebration.
These public celebrations involve street parties, parades, balls, and other forms of entertainment. Lent is fasting and sacrifice time. Additionally, it is an adieu from all bodily contentment for forty days before Easter.
So, what is the Venice carnival? Venice Carnival is a pre-Lenten celebration that is held annually in Venice, Italy. It runs for the two weeks before Ash Wednesday and it involves events such as masquerade balls, parties, parades, historical re-enactment, and a plethora of revels.
The involved costumes and masks are the quintessence of the Venice carnival, and people gather from all over the world to fix their fancy dresses. The iconic scenery of Venice transforms the city into a captivating and intriguing place. Furthermore, it creates a silhouette for the costumed participants.
Venice is the only place in the world with a unique carnival celebration and, remarkably, everyone should experience it at least once in their lifetime.
History and development of Venice Carnival
The carnival is presumed to have originated in the 11th century and its main goal was to commemorate the Venice republic’s victory over its enemy (the Patriarch of Aquileia, Ulrico di Treven).
To glorify and celebrate their victory, Venice residents flocked to Saint Mark’s square to dance. During the Serenissima republic, the celebration ran for six weeks, from 26th Dec to Shrove Tuesday at the beginning of Lent. During this period, people made mery from morning until dusk and the Republic condoned everything.
St. Mark’s square became the vast stage on which people organized several entertainments. The Venice carnival performance was impressive and theatrical.
The flight of the angel became the flight of the dove, which comprised in the acrobatic of a man whose waist was tied with ropes.
The man had to first ascend using a pulley device from the dock to the belfry of Saint Mark’s bell tower and go down to the balcony of Palazzo Ducale. He will then be offered little bunches of flowers and poetical work to the doge, who was also watching the show.
Venice Carnival was done away with by Napoleon at the end of the 18th century. The celebration resumed and it was brought back to its original magnificence in 1979. This was done to rejuvenate the economy and the culture of Venice.
Also, the city’s tourism industry saw an outpouring of interest. As anticipated, this was a smart idea from the Italian government, and the Venice carnival has grown over the years into one of the world’s prominent festivals.
Venice carnival masks and costumes
Since the ancient carnival period, the habit of putting on the masks has given rise to a flourishing trade, with professional artisans producing more and more premium and elegant masks.
Bauta
Among the most popular costumes, especially in the 17th century, bauta comprised of a certain white mask under a black hat and cloak. It is said to have been used even outside the carnival period to court someone anonymously.
Moretta
Women habitually woreMoretta costumes which consisted of a dark velvet mask that was clenched by a button in the mouth. Since those who wore the moretta could not speak, this mask was also referred to as moretta muta, meaning mute.
Ganaka
Men frequently wore Ganaka to dress up like women. The costume comprised of daily female clothing and a mask with a cat-like appearance. The wearer frequently carried a basket containing a kitten and posed like a woman producing piercing sounds and meows.
Costumes and masks are still the main attraction of the carnival, and Venice remains the stage of a unique non-ending parade of traditional 18th-century style costumes.
The Venetian masks used to be made from glass, or sometimes leather. But most modern masks are made from plastic materials that are durable and much easier to make.
The Venice Carnival is famous due to its decorated masks.
Venetian masks are given intricate decorations and details with no two masks looking the same. For centuries, Venetian masks were used to hide identities, especially while gambling or while drank. The mask was a simple way to protect one’s reputation without abstaining from any less than reputable activities.
Today, visitors are vanquished by their charm, and they often buy masks as soon as they arrive at the city (Venice) to feel completely part of the festival.
Where to purchase Venetian masks
One of the best places in Venice to purchase a mask is Atelier Marega. The place offers the most magnificent and original 18th and 19th-century Venetian masks. They have a wide variety of unique and beautiful masks.
While shopping around for masks and costumes, you’ll realize that there is a siege of cheap China-made masks around Venice. However, Atelier Marega remains the best in a few places in Venice that have continued to craft carnival masks.
They design these masks and costumes using traditional knowledge that dates back to the 19th century. Through the preservation of this ancient Venetian art, you’ll end up with an eye-catching and high-quality Venetian mask.
Their store is attractive and the staff is friendly and helpful. Just by looking at how complex the details are on each mask, you can conclude that the owner puts in more effort in crafting these masks.
The masks they produce to suit everyone’s needs. For instance, if you are looking for a faith replica or a unique and special mask, you’ll find it there! For sure, you’ll find a mask that will last longer and remind you of your wonderful moments in Venice!
PS: Atelier Marega is NOT sponsoring this blog.
Venice carnival treats
Historically, the Venice carnival is the period that preceded 40 days of the lent before Easter. It is a perfect opportunity to indulge especially with food before the beginning of the long-time abstinence.
A local Venetian treat that you try during the carnival is called Fritelle, another tradition from La Sereniassma and it literally means fritters. Fritelle is a kind of dried donuts that begins to show up a few weeks before the carnival. It is sometimes filled or not. Either, it is sometimes rolled in cane sugar or sprinkled with powdered sugar. The Nutella and chocolate-filled fritellas are the most popular. These sweet donuts usually disappear as soon as the carnival ends.
Fritella was popular that it was declared a national dessert and only a few experts were allowed to make them.
Another Venetian treat that you must give a try is the galani. Galani is a deep-fried flat pastry. You can also try castagnole, which is a little fried ball of dough. It’s often served with icing sugar. Good for you if you have a sweet tooth as you’ll love indulging in these sweet Venetian dishes as you enjoy the festivals.
Venice carnival main events
There are a plethora of interesting events held in various parts of the city during the carnival in Venice. Piazza San Marco is the heart of the festival, but other public activities are held in different parts of the city. For example, many interesting activities are held in the territory of Arsenal.
Many tourists usually attend the carnival in Venice. Many of them acquire masks and become participants of the carnival. Additionally, artists from various countries perform in the streets. New events appear in the carnival every year, but some of them have become traditional and are held annually. The following are the important events of the Venice carnival:
Mask and costume contest
A local Venetian treat that you try during the carnival is called Fritelle, another tradition from La Sereniassma and it literally means fritters. Fritelle is a kind of dried donuts that begins to show up a few weeks before the carnival. It is sometimes filled or not. Either, it is sometimes rolled in cane sugar or sprinkled with powdered sugar. The Nutella and chocolate-filled fritellas are the most popular. These sweet donuts usually disappear as soon as the carnival ends.
Fritella was popular that it was declared a national dessert and only a few experts were allowed to make them.
The flight of the angel
This is one of the traditional activities of the Venetian carnival. There are many unknowns in the history of the show. In one version, it is said that a young acrobat over the crowd through a tightrope from the boat pier on the Piazzettato the bell tower during the 16th century. Since then, the show has evolved and repeated many times. Often, hanging from the rope, a man descended to the palace of the Doge.
The flight of an angel had a catastrophic ending in 1759 when the acrobat fell to the ground. And sadly, the show was prohibited.
The show was later revived in 2001. New materials and technology were allowed to make it safer. Dressing up as an angel, a person descends on a rope over the crowd from the San Marco bell tower to the square during the first festival Sunday afternoon.
The flight of the donkey
This is a deformed parody of the prominent flight of an angel. The flight of the donkey takes place in Mestre. The event began as a mere joke when the Mandragola association asked an actor to dress up like a donkey and go down from the tower of Via Poerio.
The feast of Mary
This is also one of the major events of the Venetian carnival. It is a colorful event that is connected with the events that took place in Venice more than a thousand years ago.
If you want to add your personal angle of Venice to your home, look for breathtaking Venice photographs at Paolo Modena Photography.
Paolo Modena
My name is Paolo. I am a photographer. I consider myself fortunate to have grown up in Italy, surrounded by the art that is the envy of the world. I enjoy photography because it has caused me to fall in love with light, shade, and color. I see the world around me with fresh eyes every single day. And sometimes, when the mood is right, I just sit back and enjoy the moment without taking a photo.