10 Unusual Facts about the Venice Carnival

It’s Carnival time! The Venice Carnival is the most popular event taking place in the city from the 13th day of Lent up to Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday.

The term Carnival derives from the Latin “carnem levare” meaning “remove the meat” because it was originally referring to the final banquet preceding Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of the Lenten period of fasting, where meat is not permitted.

The tradition of Carnival is typical of many countries in the world but the one in Venice turns out to be one of the oldest and is surreal thanks to the incomparable picturesque scenery in which it takes place, with a rich program of events, including theatrical performances, fashion shows, masquerades, and the wonderful display of the typical Venetian costumes.

Around the Carnival and the creation of its masks a true craftsmanship was born which also has ancient roots. Let’s just mention that a statute of the city in April 1436 recognized the so-called “mascarere”, craftsmen who made masks of various shapes and with different materials, as a “profession”.

Bauta

Known throughout the world is the Venetian mask which was born in 1600 and still typical of modern disguises: the “Bauta”, that is a white mask called ” larva “, dominated by a black three-cornered hat and completed by a dark cloak. The mask guaranteed the anonymity of the wearer and while you maybe familiar with that, let’s take a look at some unusual facts about Venice Carnival.

10 Unusual Facts about the Venice Carnival

1. Rich and poor, illustrious and destitute, shipwrights and fishermen, Christians, Jews, men and women, everyone who hid under the disguise could pretend to be someone else and maybe climb the stairs of the Palazzo Ducale to go and salute the most serene Doge.

2. The carnival could not be interrupted and that meant it had to carry on at any cost, so much so that the death of the Doge Paolo Renier, which took place around February 13th 1789, was communicated only on March 2nd, at the end of all the festivities.

3. A mask was worn during the Carnival, but also during other special celebrations. That literally meant masks were worn throughout the year, and as a result the government had to intervene several times by revising the law. Here are a few examples: in 1339 it was forbidden for everyone to wear masks at night, and at the beginning of 1600 people were not allowed to be masked in convents and churches.

4. In the mid 1500s during a carnival in Saint Mark’s square a young acrobat walked from the bell tower of San Marco on a tightrope above the cheering crowd down to a boat anchored on the quay of the Piazzetta. On the descent he reached the balcony of the Palazzo Ducale and handed gifts to the Doge. This event was a great success and he was named the Svolo del Turco.

It became a fixed annual event on Shrove Tuesday. For safety reasons wings were applied to the acrobat who was hanging on the rope with rings and because of this it was later named Volo Dell’Angelo. But unfortunately in 1759, the show ended in tragedy.

During the performance, the acrobat fell to the ground into the crowd and so subsequently the acrobat was replaced with a large wooden dove releasing flowers and confetti onto the crowd. It was called Volo della Colombina. This tradition was preserved until 2001, when the wooden dove was replaced again with a person and the name was changed back to Volo Dell’Angelo. This event takes place at noon on the first Sunday of the celebrations.

5. The Carnival stopped being celebrated after the fall of the Republic because it was frowned upon by the Austrians and the French, but the tradition was preserved in the islands of Murano and Burano. Only at the end of the 1970s, at the behest of some citizens and civic associations, the city decided to revive the carnival which was then officially re-opened in 1979.

6. The typical sweets of the Carnevale are Frittelle and Galani, which can be purchased in every single bakery and patisserie in town, but only during Carnival time. Every shop has its own version of either cakes, so make sure to go and try as many as you can and find your favorite!

7. You can participate in a luxurious private party. Amazing parties are organized in beautiful Venetian palaces where everyone wears wonderful and sophisticated costumes which can be bought or rented from some of the ateliers of the city.

8. Many events take place throughout the city, but the main ones are located in Piazza San Marco, like the Volo Dell’Angelo, the Tre Marie and much more.

9. No fancy dress or mask? If you arrive in Venice “unprepared”, don’t worry. Immediately below the stairs of the station (and practically everywhere in the city) there are guys who paint the faces of passers-by with colors and glitter at modest prices, ranging from about €3 for half a face to approx. €5 for the full face. Or you can buy masks of all types in a variety of shops with prices from 5 to several hundred euros.

10. Despite the many visitors and the general chaos, the Carnival of Venice is definitely an event not to be missed. You’ve got to at least experience once in your life! But those who intend to spend the night in Venice during the Carnival period, would do well to book accommodation well before hand. Hotels in Venice quickly filled, making it even more difficult to find a cheap accommodation that is not on the islands or in the surrounding area.

Author’s Bio: Monica Cesarato is a native Italian from Venezia. She loves to talk about Venice, Veneto and Italy in general and offers several services in Venice ranging from food and ghosts tours to Italian courses. Chat with her about all things Italian, connect with her on Twitter @monicacesarato.