The Carnevale celebration in Italy

Carnivale of Italy is one of the most colorful celebrations around the world. This world famous carnival is famous for it's decorative and creative masks. This festival is also celebrated internationally. Carnival of New Orleans, Rio, Notting hill are some of the examples. This festival continues upto the Christian festival of Lent, fourty days before Easter.

The Carnevale celebration in Italy

Origin and History

It is widely believed that the carnival of Venice started with the victory of Venice republic against the Patriarch Ulrich II won traven of Aquileia in the year 1162. In the celebration of this grand victory, people started dancing and enjoying the celebrations, and gathered at San Marco Square, also known toady as "Pizza San Marco". Some experts believe that the carnivale originated from the Latin word "carnem levare", meaning taking away meat. This name was adopted because carnivale ends with Lent, the day of fasting, in which people stopped eating meat. It was the day of Ash Wednesday.

Although the carnivale history is not a simple one, this festival was believed to be influenced by various practices of Greek and Roman cultures. Some people also believed the festival accounted for the oncoming of spring, where people would paint their faces and bodies for traditional chanting and dancing in unison. 

During the eighteenth century, the baroque carnival, which formed a prestigious image of Venice in the world, became increasingly popular. However, masks, along with the festival became forbidden after 1797 during the rule of Fransis II, an Austrian Emperor. he rebirth of the festival along with old masquerade tradition took place in 1979.  Since 1979, the festival became immensely popular, attracting more than 3 million visitors every year to Venice for the carnival.

The History of Carnivale Masks

Due to class hierarchies in Europe, some of the Veterans used to cover their faces with mystical masques, which was considered as an unique veteran response to the class hierarchy. There were evidences of these masks being used during the 13th century. Since the laws allowed anyone to come to the carnival in any dress, or style, the Veterans visited the carnival with their unique masques. This lead to gain in interests of people visiting the carnival, and masquerades became "a thing to observe". Today, these masques are much more decorated. 

Along with masques, Carnivale is also famous for it's food, feasting and dancing. Various dances are organized in the carnival attracting several visitors. Unique Venetian food is another "mandatory" to be done while in the carnival.

The Carnevale celebration in Italy