Venice Carnival – a myth in the myth
There’s no doubt February is one interesting month in Italy, where it is not associated to Valentine’s Day, but with the Carnival of Venice. Venice is a mysterious city of water and history, the model Russian Emperors followed when building their capital; it is also the Italian city usually associated with the idea of Baroque decadence. The Carnival is Venice’s thing, it’s iconic, it’s an experience one should live at least once in their lifetime! Continue reading clicking the below button >
The origins of the Carnival
The term “carnival” was invented by a Venetian Duke around the year 1000: Venice was becoming richer by the hour thanks to its maritime trades, but the shadow of the Roman Empire was still looming above the new social hierarchy. Now there were the rich, the aristocracy, and the poor. Venice’s government decided to offer their citizens a sort of vacation from social divisions, a fest where anyone could be anything and be treated with due respect. Masks and costumes offered this chance, so the Carnival was established. At the very beginning of this tradition, the Carnival period used to begin the day after Christmas, lasting a few months, until Easter Day. Continue reading clicking the below button Next >
The Iconic Bauta
The costume known as Bauta (from the German “bewahren” or “huten” – to conceal/protect) is the most iconic costume. It was designed in the XIII century to fully conceal the wearer’s identity: the shape of the mask hides the face features and muffles the voice – it also allows the wearer to eat or drink without having to remove it. A black cape and a three-corned hat or Tricorne completes the costume: thus attired, no one could guess if the person they were talking to was a man or a woman, a rich or a pauper. In time, the Bauta became more than a mask, it was elevated to Venetian regular fashion: no one would leave home without this costume and people would greet each other saying “Good day, Noble Mask” . In 1748 comedian writer Goldoni included a Bauta in one of his plays for the first time, creating Commedia dell’Arte. This new theatrical genre granted Bauta worldwide notoriety, making of it one of the icons of the Baroque period. Continue reading clicking the below button Next >
A Mask for the ladies
Ladies had their mask too: it’s called Morettina (dark-faced lady) for it is a tiny mask made with black velvet; ladies had to bite a protruding button in order to keep it in place and hide their identities. Originally worn together with a black veil to visit churches and convents, it later joined the ranks of Carnival gear. The contrast between the black mask and the white skin was considered extremely enticing and the fact that the lady wearing the Morettina couldn’t speak, spiced things up: the eyes would do the talking. If on the one hand staring passionately was sublimely sensual, on the other hand, nothing compromising was uttered (there was no need) so the lady’s reputation would remain safe. Continue reading clicking the below button Next >
Frolicking
The Carnival was invented to afford people some fun, but who could resist the temptation to misbehave, knowing that no one could bust us out? You see how an endless list of young Venetians of both sexes took advantage of the costume’s protection to sneak out of their homes and meet their lovers, be they other civilians or nuns and priests. Nuns and priests would dress up too in order to elude their celibate life and go have some ungodly fun. Every year, as new indiscretions and law infringements were discovered, the government of the city had to write bills to ban this or that crime and establish punishments: being caught in the middle of a criminal action might cost dearly, from being simply fined to end up rotting in jail. Continue reading clicking the below button Next >
Unconquerable Venice
Gathering momentum from the ashes of the Ancien Règime, the Corsican Napoleon Bonaparte proceeded to conquer all Europe whilst menacingly heading for Russia – this means he conquered Venice too. Here, he learned about all the (more or less) criminal activities that regularly happened during the Carnival, thanks to the combination of the costumes and the general festive chaos. He felt that could pose a threat to his regime, for hypothetical rebels could freely gather and either begin plotting against him, or start a true rebellion – that’s how the French Revolution began after all: from a small mob of insurgents. The Corsican conqueror would take no chances, so he outlawed the Carnival. But Venice would not bow and the city kept its tradition going on its main islands: Murano and Burano. Continue reading clicking the below button Next >
Goldoni’s Commedia dell’Arte
Inspired by the Venetian costumes, one day the comedy writer Goldoni composed a play that was entirely designed around the masks, creating a new comedy genre called Commedia dell’Arte (roughly translatable with Theatre of the professionals). There isn’t a proper script, there are guidelines the actors have to take inspiration from while bringing to life their characters represented by the masks they are wearing. This theatrical form had a Golden Age during the XVIII and XIX centuries, when it came to include masks and costumes from all over Europe. We’ll remember the most famous ones: Harlequin and Colombina, Pantalone and his daughter Rosaura, the French Pierrot and the Neapolitan Pulcinella. Continue reading clicking the below button Next >
Living the Carnival
To live the Carnival is an experience we should all live at least once in our lives. There are various events that punctuate the festivities such as the “Angel’s flight”: a female professional acrobat dressed up as an angel is launched from the Bell Tower toward the Clock Tower. Venetians believe that the kind of flight could represent either a good omen or not. In the past, this ceremony was known as “Dove’s flight” and a dove-shaped pinata would slide from the aforementioned buildings. Before this fundamental rite, lots of parties, parades, juggling shows, plays and concerts take place in every corner of the city for the entire Carnival week, you’ll meet masks and costumes in every street, on every bridge, on the gondolas sliding along the canals. It will be impossible to resist the joyous atmosphere. A fantastic firework show is the final event: the thunderous booming and the vivid colors illuminating Venice’s night sky perfectly sum up the soul of this one-thousand- year-old tradition, don’t you agree?
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