The Carnival of Venice is an annual festival held in Venice. The Carnival ends with the Christian celebration of Lent, forty days before Easter, on Shrove Tuesday (Martedì Grasso or Mardi Gras), the day before Ash Wednesday.
Today, Carnevale in Venice is a huge celebration. While many events,particularly the opulent masquerade balls.require invitations and have steep ticket prices, many others, like the candle-lit parade of boats, concerts, and street performances, are free and open to the public.
It’s said that the Carnival of Venice was started from a victory of the Venice Republic against the Patriarch of Aquileia, in the year 1162. In the honour of this victory, the people started to dance and gather in San Marco Square. Apparently, this festival started on that period and became official in the Renaissance. In the seventeenth century, the baroque carnival was a way to save the prestigious image of Venice in the world.
The tradition of masking has a long tradition in Venice. All the way back in 1268, a law even was passed to ban putting on masks and throwing perfumed eggs!
By the time of the Renaissance, masks were a fixture of Carnevale celebrations. By the 16th century, the popular Commedia d’Arte troupe performed slapstick comedy in the piazzas of Venice while masked. Believe it or not, though, masking was hardly just a Carnival tradition.
Among the most famous costumes are t so-called baùta consisted of a particular white mask under a black hat and a black cloak. It was even used outside the carnival period to court someone anonymously. Women frequently wore a costume called moretta, consisting of a dark velvet mask that was held in place by a button in the mouth. .
By the 18th century, Venetians were allowed to wear masks for six months a year. And they took advantage!
The Carnival of Venice 2018.
From 27th January to 13th February the Venice Carnival has a lot of surprises ready for you! Are you ready to take part in the amazing program of Venice Carnival 2018? Most of the exciting events and unmissable appointments have long tradition!
18 days of celebrations with masks, fun and famous masquerades… Venice Carnival in February will open the doors of the past and show traditions. From the official opening, on Saturday 27 January, to Shrove Tuesday, its program is preparing to engage and enchant thousands of people!
The magic of carnival gives to Venice an enchanted atmosphere. Masked people fill the streets with smiles and laughter, and several events are organized all around the city.
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