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The History of Carnevale

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Today I’d like to talk a bit about the Venetian festival Carnevale that takes place every February and is celebrated with music, dancing, food, drink, and of course, those beautiful Venetian masks. The Secret of the Glass took place during the time when Carnevale was at its zenith. Many of the scenes in the novel took place during Carnevale, and it was interesting to read about how the Venetian everyday common people celebrated in the 17th century.


A shop window in Venice

It is likely that the Italian word “carnevale” comes from the Latin words carne and vale, translating to “farewell to meat”. This verbal origin makes perfect sense, since the festival takes place during the Roman Catholic holiday of Lent. Though there is evidence that Carnevale found its beginnings in Pagan tradition, emulating the bacchanaliae of the Greek god Dionysus, Carnevale was adopted by Roman Catholics to celebrate the coming of Lent. Carneval in the 12th Century was a festival commemorating doge Vitale Michiel II’s victory over patriarch Ulrico. Venetians would venerate the victory by slaughtering animals in the Piazza San Marco to be served as food during the festival.

1268 marks the first documented year in which the use of masks during Carnevale is mentioned. Masks were typically either made of leather or paper mache and were elaborately decorated with different types of fabric, ribbons, and gemstones. Today, masks are made with gesso and decorated with gold paint or gold leaf. One of the most popular masks is called a white half-mask called a Bauta. This mask was favored because it did not cover the mouth and allowed celebrants to eat, drink, and chit-chat with ease. Historically, it is generally thought that the anonymity enjoyed by mask-wearing attendees led to a decline of social order during the Carnevale – freed of their inhibitions, promiscuous behavior was ever-present as party-goers from all classes played up their mysterious disguises and the opportunities it afforded them. Drunken debauchery of all forms reigned be it in the guise of illicit love encounters or criminal offenses.

Carnevale experienced its peak in popularity during the 17th century. Masked balls and parties were regular occurances during the pre-lenten season and people flocked to Venice from all over Europe to join in on the endless dancing and feasting. Carnevale saw its decline when Napoleon’s troops invaded in 1797. It wasn’t brought back until the 1970s. Today Carnevale lasts ten days and takes place after Ash Wednesday. Carnevale 2010 ran from 2/6-2/16, ending last week. One might say the American equivalent of Carnevale is Mardi Gras, which takes place during the same time and also celebrates the pre-lenten season.


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