Origin of the word "Carnival"
The historical and philological interpretation of the word “carnival” could be:
1 first hypothesis is due to Christian meaning of latin term “carrus
navalis”, to identify procession cart as ship, used in ancient Rome during
purification rituals (usually in month of February, last month of roman
calendar year)- 2 second and more qualified hypothesis is always due to
Latin meaning “carnem levare” (to avoid meat) and it is referred to ancient
medieval tradition to celebrate, after a long period of feast and entertainment,
a party of goodbye to meat during Ash-Wednesday, forecasting Lent fast
and penances.
Today, Carnival is result of evolution and several historic events integration
during centuries course.
It is out of scope for this web-site to analyse carnival in all concepts, but it is our scope to focus on Carnival in Venice during consequential historical step and
with particular attention to one of most enigmatic and peculiar mask
of this city, the bauta (pron ba:uta:)
Carnival in Venice from 1100 till 1700
First mention to origin of Venetian Carnival start in century XII.
Reading chronicles, during Thursday of Carnival Venice celebrated the victory of doge Vitale Michiel II on patriarch Ulrico in Aquileia in the year 1162 and each year, ad memoriam, Ulrico’s successors had to send to Doge of Venice specific number of animals.
Arrived, the cattle was slaughtered and cooked and distributed to people during banquets.
This Thursday was called also “berlingaccio” (as insolent and ridiculous) to indicate specific meaning of this day for enemy of Venice.
In year 1296, then, with official document, Senate attributes “Carnival Tuesday” as holiday.
From middle of XIV century till end of XV century, organisation of Carnival
Parties and began to be ruled and made official and responsible for this
organisation was “Sock Circles”, which were groups of aristocratic people, who wore coloured socks, and each combinations of colours distinguished each district.
Today again in Venice, districts are 6 and for this reason they are called “sestrieri” (sest… is for 6th)
Remembering each district, the listels of stem (or comb) of gondola are six.
Resuming traditions phases, it is possible to have a specific chronicle
which contributed to get solemn Carnival in Venice
During Carnival days, a lot of majestic and important glamour spectacles were
prepared for Doge Receptions and for government authority, more the other
parties in aristocratic buildings. When Doge received foreign authorities,
they see all spectacles into secondary squares of Piazza S.Marco from balconies
of Palazzo Ducale : - fire machine with a lot of fireworks,
- human pyramid, called Hercules Power (forze d’Ercole)
- Moresca Ballet (moresca is mask for women)
- Blooding Bull beheading into Palazzo Ducale Court.
- Angel or dove flight.
To be precise, this last tradition, in the beginning, was the walk of Turkish
prisoner on a rope from Bell Tower to Doge Palace presenting him a gift and
to obtain freedom, in the worst hypothesis, this prisoner fell down and dead.
This tradition celebrated meanings of majority of Venice on East Lands. During
centuries, this walk has been substituted by flight of Angel, a slung person
who went down on the same rope, to symbolize peace and then this person has
been substituted by a mechanic dove. Only in the last year, tradition came
back to Angel Flight.
In Italian history tradition, Carnival is before Lent.
In Venice during XVIII century, this period has been enlarged and the start
was on October when Theatres opened.
In Europe, Venice was a town with several theatres: S.Salvador (today Teatro
Goldoni), S.Cassiano, S.Angelo, S.Moisè.
Then other private theatres were: S.Giovanni Crisostomo, (today Teatro Malibran), S.Samuele and then S.Benedetto, destroyed during a fire and after lot of legal disputes, has been re-built into “La Fenice”.
Properly, Carnival started in St.Stephen’s day (December-26th), when Authorities gave permissions to wear masks. Top of Celebrations were on Thursday before Lent and all stopped on Tuesday before Lent.
Today Tuesday before Lent is called also “mardi gras”
Carnival meant spectacles in theatres, caffès, casinos and private circles, but in general this meant all amusing behaviour, when aristocratic and normal people were the same into the streets.
In this situation, mask represented unique possibility, into mixed society with strong distinctions, to be equal and confused and to be anonym and use this advantages this condition has….
Another evidence is from a chronicle of abbot Marco Marchetti, when he told about his life in Venice and a discussion between son of Spanish Ambassador and a mask in night of November 20th 1696 on politics rule of Venice Inquisitors.
Again, Montesquieu in his memories thought about glamour and of Venetian
Carnival. This moment was very important, that cannot be interrupted. I.g.
death of doge Paolo Renier, happened on February 13th 1789 has been announced
only on march 2nd at the end of all receptions and parties.
End of Carnival in Venice
Carnival finished on 1797 in Venice, when with Campoformio Declaration, Venice has been merged into Austria, a lot of traditions were forbidden. For other years, parties in palaces continued till 1861, when Italy became one country and since then no more notes about carnival we found.
Renascence of carnival in Venice
Starting form 1979, many associations in town of Venice decided to
recreate this lost tradition, maximum glamour jointed during XVIII
century. Today several institutions plan and promote working with
other authorities the Carnival organisation and activities, on town
of Venice and in neighbourhood in the 10 days before Lent Wednesday.
