Now that it is towards the end of January, in Europe carnival season is about to begin. Living in Italy for nearly 4 years and being in close proximity to Venice, gave me a chance to see Carnevale at it’s best. If anybody is around Venice during this season you should definitely give it a go. Venice is fabulous in itself, it truly is a very unique city, but during Carnevale the city comes to a bright and energetic life that only is seen at this time.

The history of Carnevale di Venezia is fascinating for me. The reason for celebrating it is because it is the last chance for Catholics/Christians to, lets call it “get their party on”, before lent starts. (Lent is a period of 6 weeks before Easter, starting on Ash Wednesday, where basically people give up an action of theirs considered to be a vice by fasting, both from foods and festivities, or by other acts of penance, and also adding something that is considered to be able to bring them closer to God.)

 

Venice was it’s own country for a very long time so it had it’s own rulers. In the 1160’s, it said the it started as a celebration to honor to a victory against Aquileia. This festival started during that period and became official in the Renaissance. It was very famous during the eighteenth century. It encouraged licentiousness and pleasure, but it was also used to protect Venetians against the anguish for present time and future.  Under the Austrian rule it was outlawed entirely by the end of the 1700s, even masks were forbidden. It appeared again intermittently over the centuries but mostly remained private.

 

In 1979, the Italian government brought Carnevale back to Venice, in an effort to bring back the traditional history and culture of Venice. The redevelopment of the masks began as the pursuit of some Venetian college students for the tourist trade. Today, approximately 3 million visitors come to Venice every year for the Carnival.

I personally went to Carnevale di Venezia three years in a row and I would definitely go again if I was in the area. What is so great about the festival is that it is not just about people walking around in elaborate costumes with beautiful masks (although that part is certainly fascinating in itself), it is the events going on during it as well. They have a beauty contest for local girls to become the “Angel of Carnevale”. During the opening ceremonies the Angel is basically the star of the show, she is suspended high above the crowd from the bell tower in San Marco square. They have costume contests, a wine fountain for the public is near the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale), there’s processions, concerts, fireworks, “parades” on the water, and a score of other events. The official website lists the dates and events for the current year: www.carnevale. Venezia.it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Especially during the Renaissance, the masks were a big part of the celebrations because it gave the people the freedom to mingle with any class of people and to not be punished for any actions they did during the festival. Now days the masks are part of what makes it interesting. All year around there are tourist shops, souvenir shops, and carts that sell masks of all kinds. I would caution to be careful where you buy them from, some are hand made by the Italians and some are cheap Asian replicas made on mass. (Now if you want the cheaper versions go ahead, but don’t be disappointed when you go home and your neat mask souvenir has a made in China stamp on the back.)

Being a photographer and an observer of people, one of my favorite parts was photographing all the people dressed up in costume as they walked around. The costumes are so varied and intricate that of all the years I went I don’t think I could even describe half of them. A lot of them wear the more traditional Renaissance style costumes (of which there is a huge variety) but there are ones as well that I would describe as being more “Halloween-ish”.  The last year I went I wanted to focus my photography more on the people themselves so I took the portrait approach to photographing them. (You can see my photos from that series here.)

It might be crowded and cold but all in all I would say it was an amazing experience that I will always remember. I am looking forward to trying out some carnival festivals in Germany and maybe visit a little Mardi Gras when I’m back in United States of America (yes this is part of where the tradition comes from, although I’m sure it’s from the Parisian version of Carnevale).

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