About the same time of year in late January or early February in the famous Italian city of Venice, all eyes tend to focus on the Carnival of Venice, the unique event that takes place in this Venetian canal town. What is this all about? Why is it so famous, and are people aware of the rich history behind this wonderful event?

No one doubts that the Carnival of Venice is a not-to-miss event, but look deeper and you'll find the treasures, the ideas and the origins of such a fabulous event.
The Origins of The Carnival of Venice

"Carnivale" comes from the Latin "carne" and "vale", which means "to avoid meat" or "farewell to meat," which refers to pre-Lent festival, Martedí Grasso or Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras / Fat Tuesday) and the great fast of Lent, the 40 days of abstinence of eggs, meat and dairy products leading up to Easter. This approximatively reflects the period when the Carnival of Venice is celebrated today.

The origins of the Venice carnival, though disputed, is documented to have been mentioned that Venetians celebrated a war victory in 1162, and dances and small gatherings began to take place at the famous San Marco Square, the place most people today associate with flocks of pigeons. It is said that each year since that war, Ulrich II, who was released as a prisoner of war, was to pay a yearly tribute to Venice at the "Piazza di San Marco" (Saint Marks Square) with one bull, 12 loaves of bread and 12 pigs beginning on Martedí Grasso / Mardi Gras. All of the animals were slaughtered, prepared and feasted upon. Starting out as a small party, word slowly disseminated across Italy, Europe and farther - and more and more entertainers and citizens joined the festivities. These festivities grew gradually and became more and more elaborate each year. The carnival today, would be hard to top!

Why The Masks?

During the period of the Carnival of Venice, nearly everything was allowed and to be somewhat socially equal and to add allure to the festive atmosphere, everyone wore a mask, which enabled anonymity and removed any notions or traces of social status. In other words, all were equal on the Venetian playing field. In a highly hierarchical society, It was a strongly anticipated time of year in which social tensions could be forgotten. It was an important time to allow more humble Venetians to feel as if they were more powerful, even for a short amount of time. It was a time to "rub shoulders" with people never known to share the same social circles. This idea is what seems to be the most intriguing and most inviting to everyone.

Venice, Saint Marks Square and all the other squares in particular, became open stages where people could dance and play, incorporating every sort of entertainment imaginable. Self-consciousness was no longer an issue and what emerged was: parties, balls, all forms of entertainment, masks, theater and more.
Venice became a popular tourist attraction for the whole of Europe and eventually became a wildly hot destination to the rest of the world. Now, Venice welcomes thousands of visitors eager to experience its singular personality and effervescent atmosphere during one of the most jovial festivals in all of Europe and beyond.

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Cate Defrise is a freelance writer and producer who expatriated to Europe in 2002. She has become very acquainted with Italian travel and has spent much time in Venice staying at various Venice hotels and other Venice accommodations.