Carnevale

Carnevale (Carnival), has been celebrated for centuries throughout Italy. The word may well derive from carne vale - 'farewell to meat' - which would explain the function of the celebration: an opportunity to indulge and use up such treats before the start of Lent (like an extended Pancake Day).

In modern Italy Carnevale is generally a time for children, who are led, carried and wheeled around town dressed in costumes - from cute fluffy animal suits to musketeers and Harry Potters, leaving a trail of confetti, sweets and 'silly string' littering streets and piazzas. Sometimes the celebrations extend to organised events for the whole community, but on the whole it's not a very important time for adults.

In Venice, however, the tourist board and hoteliers hit upon a fantastic money-earner in the 1980s when they revived a picturesque version of Venice's past. In Venice it's the grown-ups who have most of the fun, with masked balls, costume parades and a slightly antiseptic nostalgia for more decadent times.

The Venice Carnival began in 1039, and after 1162 was officially used as a symbolic welcoming of entry for rulers of the city upon their return, for example after victory in the war against Ulrico, Patriarch of Aquileia. Later the carnival also was an occasion in medieval times for processions celebrating marriages. Although generally for the upper classes, the masquerade balls transfigured into a more public affair in the 16th century when people donned the colourful masks to free themselves from judging neighbours, all of whom knew each other in such a small city. Too much decadence throughout the middle ages meant that the wearing of the masks became strictly limited to the ‘Carnevale’, as at one stage masks were worn on a daily basis but later banned, and so traditionally the carnival represents the last acceptable opulence binge annually before Lent.

However much the modern Carnival may be contrived for tourists, it's undeniably atmospheric to walk down a lane in Venice and pass cloaked and masked figures. The tourist board and hotels urge their guests to participate by wearing at least a mask as they tour the town. It can be an exciting time for children: as long as the masks don't scare them, there are plenty of opportunities for fun. The city is very busy, particularly during the two Carnival weekends, and there is a genuinely festive atmosphere.

Costumes and masks largely provide the grandeur and mystique to the Carnival. Costumes in calle, campelli, lace, brocade, velvet and satins are elaborate, rich, detailed and evoke a magical feeling. These costumes combined with an appropriate mask allow the wearer to escape into a world where he can live his fantasy.

Costumes fall into two types the carnival costume and the historical costume, both allow one to indulge in an orgy of elaborate and rich dressing. Masks like the Bauta, were used by both men and women but not girls of marriageable age. The mask comes with a small cloak over the shoulders and a witch style hat and a large black cloak.

However much the modern Carnival may be contrived for tourists, it's undeniably atmospheric to walk down a lane in Venice and pass cloaked and masked figures. The tourist board and hotels urge their guests to participate by wearing at least a mask as they tour the town. It can be an exciting time for children: as long as the masks don't scare them, there are plenty of opportunities for fun. The city is very busy, particularly during the two Carnival weekends, and there is a genuinely festive atmosphere.

The hedonistic extravagance that has always been synonymous with the Venice Carnival still lives on today through the beauty of the mastered fashion and appreciation of arts in general.

Sorry if I sound like sponsored by the Venice Tourist Board (!!!), but the Carnevale di Venezia is such a unique event that you should experience it at least once in your life!

(Photos kindly provided by my "reporter-in-location", the lovely Giusy)