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VENICE Carnival

The Venice Carnival is the most internationally known festival celebrated in Venice, Italy, as well as being one of the oldest. This congregation of masked people, called Venice Carnival, began in the 15th century, but the tradition can be traced back to the beginning of the 14th Century.

The Venice Carnival

Carnivale or Carnival is celebrated all over Italy. Derived from carnem levare, literally, 'remove the meat' in Latin, carnival officially starts in mid-January and ends on the day before Ash Wednesday. This is the first day of Lent, the period of 40 days abstinence during which Christians were once forbidden from eating meat.

Carnival is a pagan holiday of medieval origin dating back to ancient winter rites when disguises and laughter were used to chase away the evil spirits of winter. During the first week of celebrations adults go to veglioni [late night parties], often wearing costumes and masks while children wear disguises to school and around the piazzas feeding on the candies stuffed in their pockets. Carnevale pastries [which are thin dough strips fried and dusted with powdered sugar] called fritelle, tortelli or chiacchiere fill the shops.

Celebrations reach a crescendo of parties and parades on the final day, Martedi Grasso [Fat Tuesday] when a symbol of the carnival itself is burned on a bonfire [with many regional variations on this theme]. Local traditions often play a major role in the way carnival is celebrated, giving the festivities unique flavor in many cities and towns.

The duration of the festivities varies from locality to locality but it usually lasts a week to ten days from beginning to end. Everything remains open and the country takes on a festive, party spirit.

Date: From Easter Sunday we have to backtrack the 40 days of Lent to a Wednesday. The Tuesday before that Wednesday is Fat Tuesday and is the last day of Carnivale. The manifestation, therefore, will be the 10 to 14 days leading up to this Fat Tuesday.

Doges Ball: Are you going to be in Venice for Carnevale? Then why not get involved and book your tickets to the Doges Ball. Most balls are private affairs, however the Doge's Ball is an exception and is held annually in the 15th Century Palazzo Pisani Moretta on the Grand Canal. The organizer of the event is Antonia Sautter and you can rent costumes and buy tickets from her via her website below. Tel: 041 523 3851 Buy carnival tickets

[ This information is courtesy of hostetler.net ]