Venice Carnival in Italy. Сelebration of masks and emotions at the brightest carnival in the world!

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The Venice Carnival (Il Carnevale di Venezia) is the most famous carnival in Europe. During the carnival, the whole city comes alive, the streets are filled with colorful swirling masks, music and fun. Guests from all over the world come to the carnival, some of them act as actors and artists, but the Venetians themselves are also looking forward to it. They compete to make traditional masks and come up with various events related to the carnival. The carnival is never known in advance, it is organized not only by the city authorities, but also by private entrepreneurs, as well as local theater and dance groups. The carnival takes place in winter. This year it is special, as it is dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of the famous Venetian seducer and writer Giacomo Casanova. Under the motto "Love and Freedom", the streets and canals of the city will come alive thanks to a varied program, filled with traditional and modern elements. The date of the carnival is always different, as it begins 10 days before Ash Wednesday and is the last fun before the Easter fast, like our carnival. However, one of the most common interpretations of the origin of the word carnival is the Italian word carne (meat) and vale (away and or gain strength), farewell to meat dishes and further feasting before the long Lent. However, tradition says that the carnival originates from pagan holidays, some see its origins in the ancient Saturnalia. The first written mention of the carnival in Venice dates back to 1268, but it is almost certain that the Venetians wore masks as early as the 11th century. Masked performances were very mischievous and initially lasted for several months. Morals fell during them, so the city began to protect itself from wearing masks with various regulations. During the carnival, it was forbidden to wear masquerade costumes, enter churches and casinos. Wearing masks was used to cover up various crimes and misdemeanors, as evidenced by, for example, the decree of 1603 prohibiting men from dressing in women's clothing and visiting nuns in convents. It was repeatedly forbidden to wear sharp objects with the costume, which could cause injury to others. Very severe punishments and fines were imposed for breaking the ban - men were sentenced to two years in prison and a fine of 500 lire, women were subjected to public ridicule in St. Mark's and four years of exile from Venice. Women also had to pay a fine of 500 lire. The traditional masks used at the carnival are based on the aforementioned Commedia dell'Arte, which had permanent characters with characteristic costumes. From here comes the famous Columbine - a mask covering only the upper half of the face and decorated with gold or silver, and Harlequin - a mask originally made of wood or leather. Its color is black with a flat monkey nose. It depicts a savage or a slave. Pantalone is a mask for the upper half of the face, depicting a sad old man with a long nose and slanted eyes. In addition to these figures, other traditional masks can be seen at the carnival, such as: Bautta - a square mask covering the entire face, with no opening for the mouth, usually accompanied by a triangular hat and a cloak. Dottore - a fancy white mask with a long beak and round eye holes, often accompanied by glasses. Volto - a white mask, traditionally accompanied by a triangular hat, possibly depicting a ghost. The masks are made in luxurious workshops from expensive materials, but they can also be bought in an economical version for tourists. Mask makers are highly respected, in the past they even had their own guild. Some Venetian families inherit the costumes for many generations and are rightfully proud of them.
The carnival begins with the traditional Festa Veneziana - a spectacular water parade on the Grand Canal. Boats decorated with lights and flowers create an unforgettable atmosphere. The evening continues with a light show and musical performances that represent the main theme of this year's carnival. The main part of the carnival takes place on the Grand Canal and St. Mark's Square, but a special magical atmosphere permeates the entire city. Nothing compares to wandering through the winding streets between the interweaving of canals and bridges. Here you can also see the unusually beautiful and original Venetian masks or join in the wild fun.