On Valentine’s Day one of my dreams came true. I went to Carnevale in Venice with my sweetheart. Michael and I booked a hotel, braved the crowds, assembled our costumes and spent the weekend in Venice. The weather was perfect and our time was magical.
Hundred and hundreds of years ago, the followers of the Catholic religion in Italy started the tradition of holding a wild costume festival right before the first day of Lent. Because Catholics are not supposed to eat meat during Lent, they called their festival, carnevale — which means “to put away the meat.” As time passed, carnivals in Italy became quite famous; and in fact the practice spread to France, Spain, and all the Catholic countries in Europe. Then as the French, Spanish, and Portuguese began to take control of the Americas and other parts of the world, they brought with them their tradition of celebrating carnival.
Children dress up in costumes, throw confetti at each other, and generally raise a ruckus. Adults dress in lavish costumes and may host theme parties at their homes, attend masquerade balls, or go out on the town.
The most famous city to host Carnevale in Europe is Venice, Italy. Carnevale in Venice dates back to the 11th century and today it is celebrated over a span of two weeks. It’s a huge winter festival with parades, masquerade balls, entertainment, music, food and parties. Mischief and pranks are also common during Carnevale – thus the saying
A Carnevale Ogni Scherzo Vale, anything goes at carnival.
Masks have always been a central feature of the Venetian carnival. The practice of wearing masks for disguise reached its peak in the 18th century when Venetians of different social classes used Carnevale as an excuse to mingle and in some cases, to engage in sexual liaisons without fear of recognition or retribution. Venice is the best city for traditional carnival masks (and sexual liaisons). People can be seen in elaborate masks and costumes for the festival and there are both private and public masquerade balls.
Mussolini’s fascist party banned the Venice carnival during the 1930’s. It was later resurrected by a number of local artisans around 1979.
We witnessed one of the most spectacular opening events of the Carnevale – the Volo dell’Angelo (flight of the Angel). The history is that a Turkish acrobat would climb a rope aided by a balancing rod to the top of the belfry of the belltower (Campanile) in San Marco’s square and then descend upside down gliding along the rope to the loggia of the Doge’s (King’s) Palace.
This event has evolved into an exciting and secretive spectacle as the “angel” of the flight is a celebrity and their identity is not revealed until the actual event. Last year it was American rapper Coolio who took the flight. This year is was 25 year old Margherita Missoni the niece of famous Italian fashion designer Ottavio Missoni. “When I was up there I was terrified, and immediately regretted ever having agreed to do it,” Missoni now laughs. “But after a few minutes of tears and saying no over and over, I closed my eyes and told them to do it. And then I was flying over Venice. Amazing. I could even see the mountains in the distance, and the 100,000 people looking up at me.” But she was looking for a few people in particular: “I could see my mother and my grandmother crying, and it made me so happy.”
We loved it and plan to return again next year with a group of masked partiers to further experience Carnevale.
The flight only took two hours from Venice and cost around $150 (USD). We splurged on the hotel staying at the Athenaeum that was only two blocks from Buckingham Palace and Kensington Gardens. We lucked out as the weather was sunny and warm for March in old foggy London town.
Fun at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum
Westminster Abbey
Views of Big Ben
The London Eye
The Beefeaters of London Tower
We saw the show Wicked at the Apollo Vic
