The Carnevale di Venezia is one of the most famous carnivals around the world, and it’s famous for its intricate Venetian Masks. It is not a surprise that every carnival, regardless of its country origin or other characteristics, is traditionally associated with Venetian carnival masks. In the festival, these masks are part of elaborate costumes that evoke feelings of pomp, elegance, and even a bit of magic.
The mask, as a primary symbol of a carnival, has an interesting history linked to old Venice traditions. Discover the most important facts about the history of the Venice mask.
1. The origin
The tradition of the mask started in the 13th century when Venetians would hold celebrations and parties from December 26th until the start of Lent and wear elaborate masks to conceal their identity. These parties were the only time when the lower and upper classes mingled together. Aristocrats and peasants, disguised by their masks, played out their fantasies together. They indulged in illicit activities like gambling, clandestine affairs, political assassination, and dancing and partying the night away.
The origin of the word Carnival of Venice is traced back to the Middle Ages. It appears for the first time in a document of the Doge Vitale Falier in 1904, where it’s used to talk about public entertainment.
The carnival tradition has very distant roots, already the ancient ‘Satur’ in Roman times identified a period of the year in which a joyful collective rite was allowed, almost encouraged, with which the rigid order between social classes, between the sexes, was subverted, religions and established hierarchies.
2. Meaning of Carnevale
The word Carnevale “CARNEM LEVARE” is derived from the Latin word “eliminate meat” referring to the day after the revelry of ‘Mardi Gras’, in which the period of Lent began with abstinence and fasting.
3. The First Carnival
In Venice, the first document that officially called the carnival a “public holiday” was an order of the Senate of Serenissima in 1296, but since 1271, we have news about workshops for the production of masks and related construction but It’s in the eighteenth century that the Carnival of Venice reaches its greatest splendor, acquiring international resonance throughout Europe.
4. Venice Carnival was banned for more than 200 years!
After long years of excess and extravagance, with the fall of the Serenissima, the Carnival suffered a period of decline.
In 1797 Venice became part of the Austrian-held Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia when Napoleon signed the Treaty of Campo Formio. The Austrians took control of the city on January 18, 1798, and it fell into a decline where only private parties in Venetian palaces and the Ballo Della Cavalchina at La Fenice were allowed. The last historical Carnival of Venice was in 1797
The Carnival was outlawed by the fascist government in the 1930s but was not fully reborn until 1979 when a group of enthusiasts attempted to revive Venetian Carnival in the same spirit that provokes American historical societies to organize mock battles on Independence Day or to stage charity balls with Victorian costumes and themes.
The streets, the fields, the calli, are then transformed into a large stage where everything seems to become possible for the guarantee of total anonymity.
5. The Masks and costumes
There are about 10 different types of Venetian masks. The most traditional mask is the Bauta style. Bauta appears in white and is a mask that was used throughout the whole year by people who wished to continue to hide their identity.
Among the symbolic masks of Carnival is the Bauta, a disguise used exclusively in Venice, consisting of a black cloak or tabard, a black tricorn on a white face.
Carnival still remains popular in Italy although the infiltration of modern icons and influences from abroad, such as comic book cartoon heroes, has meant that many historical masks of the past are seen less and less. However, there are those which are so popular that the tradition of wearing them will surely remain with us for many years to come. From North to South, every region of Italy has its own representative mask.
They have been drawn from the main characters in the ‘commedia dell’arte’ from the 1500’s until the literary comedies of the 1700’s. They survived as puppet characters and return each year during Carnival.
