![\"Carnival](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/dsc_0946.jpg\" "\\"Carnival")
Today, during the Carnival of Venice, which lasts a\u00a0little bit less than three weeks, the visitors can choose to attend some of the numerous\u00a0thematic balls that take place each day in lavish Venetian palaces.
\nThe visitors can also\u00a0experience the carnival spirit and freedom that the former Venetians celebrated at the
\nsquares, bridges and canals, where diverse performances and events were organized.
\n
Just like Venice itself, the carnival festivities\u00a0have long tradition and history.\u00a0History of the carnival is linked\u00a0with the victory of the Republic of Venice \u00a0over Aquileia in 1162.
\nThe victory was celebrated at the St\u00a0Mark\u2019s Square where a great festivity\u00a0was organized, which is considered\u00a0as the beginning of the carnival.\u00a0The first written documents about\u00a0the carnival date from the year 1296.\u00a0The date of celebration of carnival festivities\u00a0has been changing throughout\u00a0the years.
\nDuring the last three\u00a0decades the carnival has been organised\u00a0in January and February, when\u00a0Venice becomes the city of masks,\u00a0colours, excellent fun and very good\u00a0mood. The specific feature of the carnival\u00a0is that the events do not only\u00a0take place at squares, but also at great\u00a0number of canals, off-streets and\u00a0bridges, where the visitors are animated\u00a0by different entertainers, musicians,\u00a0magicians and acrobats.
\n\n\nThis year, the Carnival of Venice was held in a period from 31st January to 17th February 2015.
\n
\nThe masks are made of paper or\u00a0leather, decorated with plaster details\u00a0and gold plate, precious and semiprecious\u00a0stones and manually depicted.The central event is taking place at\u00a0the St Mark\u2019s Square which turns to\u00a0magnificent stage, full of luxurious\u00a0masks, suits and costumes, that the\u00a0people taking part in the carnival conceive\u00a0and design months in advance.
\nDuring the carnival, theatres and halls\u00a0organize concerts, plays and various\u00a0manifestations for which the tickets\u00a0must be booked in advance, and the\u00a0price goes up to several of hundreds\u00a0of euros.
\nTHE HISTORY OF THE CARNIVAL
\n![\"Carnival](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/venice-uno_4.jpg\" "\\"Carnival")
Wearing masks was everyday practice\u00a0of the Venetians. At the beginning of\u00a0the 14th century, various restrictions\u00a0of masking and disguising came into\u00a0force.
\nMasquerades were often banned, which\u00a0influenced the development of\u00a0the carnival itself. In 1608, a law was\u00a0passed, and it allowed masquerades\u00a0only during the carnival and the official\u00a0banquettes. As the moral values\u00a0of Venetians were alarming, drastic\u00a0penalties for violation of these rules\u00a0were prescribed.
\nThe provisions from the years 1699\u00a0and 1718 prescribed prohibition of\u00a0wearing masks during the lent and\u00a0religious festivals taking place during\u00a0the carnival.
\nWeakening of development of carnival\u00a0festivities starts with the fall of the\u00a0Venetian Republic at the end of the\u00a018th Century. The modern history of\u00a0the carnival is reckoned from the year\u00a01979, when the carnival becomes one\u00a0of the main and the most interesting\u00a0attractions of Venice, as well as one of\u00a0the most extravagant carnivals of the\u00a0world.
\nTHE MASKS
\nThe masks are the token of Venetians\u00a0and have great significance for their\u00a0culture and history. Wearing masks\u00a0implied equality, freedom, escape from\u00a0reality and enjoying vices. Everyone\u00a0was getting the opportunity to\u00a0be someone else, at least for a short\u00a0time, and to enjoy the role they chose\u00a0to play, but, although it was a general\u00a0belief that under the mask everyone\u00a0is equal, only the chosen ones could\u00a0attend ballroom festivities and private\u00a0masquerades.
\nIt was considered that the original\u00a0masks were created only by the Venetian\u00a0artisans, who were prominent artists\u00a0highly appreciated by the society.\u00a0There are various types of masks\u00a0worn at the carnival, of which the most\u00a0famous are the following:
\n![\"Volto](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/volto.jpg\" "\\"Volto")
Bauta is the most popular Venetian\u00a0mask covering upper part of the face\u00a0and the cheeks, it is possible to talk,\u00a0eat or drink, but the mask completely\u00a0covers the identity of the one wearing\u00a0it. In the 18th century, it was obligatory\u00a0to wear this mask at the certain\u00a0political gatherings.
\nBauta was most often worn only by\u00a0men, in combination with the black\u00a0three-brimmed hat.
Columbina mask covers only eyes,\u00a0nose and upper part of cheeks. It was\u00a0worn only by women, but nowadays\u00a0it is worn by men as well. Gold, silver,\u00a0crystal and leather are details adorning\u00a0this mask.
\nMedico della peste with its white\u00a0\u201cbeak\u201d is the most bizarre and the most\u00a0recognizable Venetian mask.\u00a0Its original purpose was to protect from\u00a0infections and diseases, and later\u00a0people started to use it as carnival mask\u00a0as well. Today, these masks are produced\u00a0with much more details and\u00a0decoration than in the past.
\nMoretta (Servetta muta) is female oval-shaped mask, with velvet and veil.\u00a0Women wearing this mask could not\u00a0speak, as the mask did not have the\u00a0opening for the mouth, only for the\u00a0eyes.
\nLarva, also known as volto mask, is\u00a0the typical Venetian mask. Most of\u00a0these masks are white coloured and\u00a0worn together with three-brimmed\u00a0hat and gown. This mask is made of\u00a0wax and fine fabrics, it completely\u00a0covers the face and hides the identity\u00a0of the person wearing it.
\n\n
TRADITIONAL \u00a0ENTERTAINMENTS AND PLAYS
\n\n
Festival on the Carnival Thursday
\n![\"Carnival](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/19_114.jpg\" "\\"Carnival")
Celebration of the victory of the Venetian\u00a0Republic over the Aquileia emperor\u00a0Ulrich has been taking place at\u00a0the St Mark Square since 12th century.\u00a0After the triumph, the Venetians demanded\u00a0from the Patriarch of Aquileia\u00a0to send them, each year for the\u00a0Carnival Thursday, one bull and 12 pigs,\u00a0which the Venetians held prisoners\u00a0in the Doge\u2019s Palace.
\nThis tradition lasted all until the fall\u00a0of the Venetian Republic. Today, the\u00a0Carnival Thursday is still celebrated,\u00a0in honour of this great victory.
Angel\u2019s Flight
\nThe Angel\u2019s Flight represents traditional\u00a0happening in honour of the\u00a0young Turkish acrobat who, in order\u00a0to make a sensation at the carnival,\u00a0descended down the rope stretched\u00a0between the ship anchored near the\u00a0St Mark Square and the church bell tower.\u00a0This very quickly became one\u00a0of the most interesting happenings\u00a0of the carnival, and the custom has\u00a0been kept all until nowadays. As the\u00a0people performing this \u201cflight\u201d were\u00a0disguised as angels, the event was named\u00a0the Angel\u2019s Flight.
\nAfter the accident that happened\u00a0in 1759, when the acrobat fell down\u00a0during the performance of the Angel\u2019s\u00a0Flight, the custom was changed.\u00a0They introduced the tradition of descending\u00a0wooden pigeons, stuffed\u00a0with confetti and flowers, which are\u00a0sprinkled over the visitors.\u00a0In 2001 tradition of descending acrobat\u00a0was returned.
\n![\"Carnival](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/fat-tuesday-venice_carnival_mask___mirror_by_bobsongs.jpg\" "\\"Carnival")
Last Day of the Carnival
\nThe last day of the carnival was particularly\u00a0feted among the Venetians,\u00a0as those were the last days of freedom,\u00a0before going back to their everyday\u00a0lives. The festivity was taking\u00a0place at the St Mark\u2019s Square, and in\u00a0off-streets, torches were lighted all around\u00a0the city, people were dancing,\u00a0singing and feasting.
\nThe bells of the church San Francesco\u00a0della Vigna, would announce the end\u00a0of the carnival and the beginning of\u00a0the great lent. This winter, as any other winter, the\u00a0streets, squares, canals and bridges of\u00a0Venice were disguised as imaginative\u00a0Venetian masks and costumes. The entire city was dancing in the rhythm\u00a0of the carnival festivities.
\nThe Grand Theatre, great stage at the\u00a0St Mark\u2019s Square, was traditionally the\u00a0place of central events, various performances\u00a0choreographic and music\u00a0performances.
\nThe opening ceremony of the festival\u00a0La Festa Veneziana was held on 31st\u00a0January, and the famous parade of\u00a0boats across the canal Grande started\u00a0the day later. At the St Mark Square,\u00a0in a period from 7th to 17th February,\u00a0the contest for the best carnival\u2019s costume\u00a0took place.
\n![\"Carnival](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/naslovna-2.jpg\" "\\"Carnival")
8th February was reserved for traditional\u00a0happening, Volo dell\u2019Angelo/\u00a0the Angel\u2019s Flight. Only one day before,\u00a0the happening Festa delle Marie\u00a0took place, where 12 girls were selected\u00a0in memory of the Venetian doges\u00a0who were, once a year, choosing 12\u00a0beautiful, but modest girls, and gifting\u00a0them with jewels and dresses.
\nFor this year\u2019s exclusive festivities,\u00a0for which the ticket price went up to\u00a0several hundred euros, the organizers\u00a0announced numerous interesting events,\u00a0of which, as tradition, stands out\u00a0great glamorous masquerade ball on\u00a0the love day – The Saint Valentine\u2019s\u00a0Masquerade Ball.
This year\u2019s St Valentines Masquerade\u00a0Ball was held in the Venetian Palace\u00a0situated at the beautiful Grand Canal.\u00a0The host of this masquerade was\u00a0none other than Casanova himself,\u00a0with his attendance from the famous\u00a0play Commedia del\u2019 Arte. The hosts,\u00a0dressed in luxurious Venetian costumes,\u00a0with the music and the atmosphere\u00a0of the lavish palace, evoked this\u00a0feast for the visitors.
\nAll the guests of this\u00a0precious ball\u00a0had the privilege to enjoy the palace in which masquerades have been organized\u00a0for hundreds of years.
This year, with its diverse program,\u00a0Venice again justified the expectations\u00a0of many tourists who were hiding\u00a0their faces behind the colourful\u00a0masks and lavish costumes.
\nThe carnival atmosphere reigned in\u00a0all Venetian streets and squares.
The post CARNIVAL OF VENICE – THE CITY HIDDEN BEHIND MASKS appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.
\n", "content_text": "Wearing masks implied equality, freedom, escape from reality and enjoying vices. Everyone\u00a0was getting the opportunity to be someone else, at least for a short time, and to\u00a0enjoy the role they chose to play.\nToday, during the Carnival of Venice, which lasts a\u00a0little bit less than three weeks, the visitors can choose to attend some of the numerous\u00a0thematic balls that take place each day in lavish Venetian palaces.\nThe visitors can also\u00a0experience the carnival spirit and freedom that the former Venetians celebrated at the\nsquares, bridges and canals, where diverse performances and events were organized.\n\nCarnival of Venice\nJust like Venice itself, the carnival festivities\u00a0have long tradition and history.\u00a0History of the carnival is linked\u00a0with the victory of the Republic of Venice \u00a0over Aquileia in 1162.\nThe victory was celebrated at the St\u00a0Mark\u2019s Square where a great festivity\u00a0was organized, which is considered\u00a0as the beginning of the carnival.\u00a0The first written documents about\u00a0the carnival date from the year 1296.\u00a0The date of celebration of carnival festivities\u00a0has been changing throughout\u00a0the years.\nDuring the last three\u00a0decades the carnival has been organised\u00a0in January and February, when\u00a0Venice becomes the city of masks,\u00a0colours, excellent fun and very good\u00a0mood. The specific feature of the carnival\u00a0is that the events do not only\u00a0take place at squares, but also at great\u00a0number of canals, off-streets and\u00a0bridges, where the visitors are animated\u00a0by different entertainers, musicians,\u00a0magicians and acrobats.\n\nThis year, the Carnival of Venice was held in a period from 31st January to 17th February 2015.\n\n\nThe masks are made of paper or\u00a0leather, decorated with plaster details\u00a0and gold plate, precious and semiprecious\u00a0stones and manually depicted.The central event is taking place at\u00a0the St Mark\u2019s Square which turns to\u00a0magnificent stage, full of luxurious\u00a0masks, suits and costumes, that the\u00a0people taking part in the carnival conceive\u00a0and design months in advance.\nDuring the carnival, theatres and halls\u00a0organize concerts, plays and various\u00a0manifestations for which the tickets\u00a0must be booked in advance, and the\u00a0price goes up to several of hundreds\u00a0of euros.\nTHE HISTORY OF THE CARNIVAL\nCarnival of Venice\nWearing masks was everyday practice\u00a0of the Venetians. At the beginning of\u00a0the 14th century, various restrictions\u00a0of masking and disguising came into\u00a0force.\nMasquerades were often banned, which\u00a0influenced the development of\u00a0the carnival itself. In 1608, a law was\u00a0passed, and it allowed masquerades\u00a0only during the carnival and the official\u00a0banquettes. As the moral values\u00a0of Venetians were alarming, drastic\u00a0penalties for violation of these rules\u00a0were prescribed.\nThe provisions from the years 1699\u00a0and 1718 prescribed prohibition of\u00a0wearing masks during the lent and\u00a0religious festivals taking place during\u00a0the carnival.\nWeakening of development of carnival\u00a0festivities starts with the fall of the\u00a0Venetian Republic at the end of the\u00a018th Century. The modern history of\u00a0the carnival is reckoned from the year\u00a01979, when the carnival becomes one\u00a0of the main and the most interesting\u00a0attractions of Venice, as well as one of\u00a0the most extravagant carnivals of the\u00a0world.\nTHE MASKS\nThe masks are the token of Venetians\u00a0and have great significance for their\u00a0culture and history. Wearing masks\u00a0implied equality, freedom, escape from\u00a0reality and enjoying vices. Everyone\u00a0was getting the opportunity to\u00a0be someone else, at least for a short\u00a0time, and to enjoy the role they chose\u00a0to play, but, although it was a general\u00a0belief that under the mask everyone\u00a0is equal, only the chosen ones could\u00a0attend ballroom festivities and private\u00a0masquerades.\nIt was considered that the original\u00a0masks were created only by the Venetian\u00a0artisans, who were prominent artists\u00a0highly appreciated by the society.\u00a0There are various types of masks\u00a0worn at the carnival, of which the most\u00a0famous are the following:\nVolto Mask\nBauta is the most popular Venetian\u00a0mask covering upper part of the face\u00a0and the cheeks, it is possible to talk,\u00a0eat or drink, but the mask completely\u00a0covers the identity of the one wearing\u00a0it. In the 18th century, it was obligatory\u00a0to wear this mask at the certain\u00a0political gatherings.\nBauta was most often worn only by\u00a0men, in combination with the black\u00a0three-brimmed hat.\nColumbina mask covers only eyes,\u00a0nose and upper part of cheeks. It was\u00a0worn only by women, but nowadays\u00a0it is worn by men as well. Gold, silver,\u00a0crystal and leather are details adorning\u00a0this mask.\nMedico della peste with its white\u00a0\u201cbeak\u201d is the most bizarre and the most\u00a0recognizable Venetian mask.\u00a0Its original purpose was to protect from\u00a0infections and diseases, and later\u00a0people started to use it as carnival mask\u00a0as well. Today, these masks are produced\u00a0with much more details and\u00a0decoration than in the past.\nMoretta (Servetta muta) is female oval-shaped mask, with velvet and veil.\u00a0Women wearing this mask could not\u00a0speak, as the mask did not have the\u00a0opening for the mouth, only for the\u00a0eyes.\nLarva, also known as volto mask, is\u00a0the typical Venetian mask. Most of\u00a0these masks are white coloured and\u00a0worn together with three-brimmed\u00a0hat and gown. This mask is made of\u00a0wax and fine fabrics, it completely\u00a0covers the face and hides the identity\u00a0of the person wearing it.\n \nTRADITIONAL \u00a0ENTERTAINMENTS AND PLAYS\n \nFestival on the Carnival Thursday\nCarnival of Venice – St Mark Square\nCelebration of the victory of the Venetian\u00a0Republic over the Aquileia emperor\u00a0Ulrich has been taking place at\u00a0the St Mark Square since 12th century.\u00a0After the triumph, the Venetians demanded\u00a0from the Patriarch of Aquileia\u00a0to send them, each year for the\u00a0Carnival Thursday, one bull and 12 pigs,\u00a0which the Venetians held prisoners\u00a0in the Doge\u2019s Palace.\nThis tradition lasted all until the fall\u00a0of the Venetian Republic. Today, the\u00a0Carnival Thursday is still celebrated,\u00a0in honour of this great victory.\nAngel\u2019s Flight\nThe Angel\u2019s Flight represents traditional\u00a0happening in honour of the\u00a0young Turkish acrobat who, in order\u00a0to make a sensation at the carnival,\u00a0descended down the rope stretched\u00a0between the ship anchored near the\u00a0St Mark Square and the church bell tower.\u00a0This very quickly became one\u00a0of the most interesting happenings\u00a0of the carnival, and the custom has\u00a0been kept all until nowadays. As the\u00a0people performing this \u201cflight\u201d were\u00a0disguised as angels, the event was named\u00a0the Angel\u2019s Flight.\nAfter the accident that happened\u00a0in 1759, when the acrobat fell down\u00a0during the performance of the Angel\u2019s\u00a0Flight, the custom was changed.\u00a0They introduced the tradition of descending\u00a0wooden pigeons, stuffed\u00a0with confetti and flowers, which are\u00a0sprinkled over the visitors.\u00a0In 2001 tradition of descending acrobat\u00a0was returned.\nCarnival of Veince\nLast Day of the Carnival\nThe last day of the carnival was particularly\u00a0feted among the Venetians,\u00a0as those were the last days of freedom,\u00a0before going back to their everyday\u00a0lives. The festivity was taking\u00a0place at the St Mark\u2019s Square, and in\u00a0off-streets, torches were lighted all around\u00a0the city, people were dancing,\u00a0singing and feasting.\nThe bells of the church San Francesco\u00a0della Vigna, would announce the end\u00a0of the carnival and the beginning of\u00a0the great lent. This winter, as any other winter, the\u00a0streets, squares, canals and bridges of\u00a0Venice were disguised as imaginative\u00a0Venetian masks and costumes. The entire city was dancing in the rhythm\u00a0of the carnival festivities.\nThe Grand Theatre, great stage at the\u00a0St Mark\u2019s Square, was traditionally the\u00a0place of central events, various performances\u00a0choreographic and music\u00a0performances.\nThe opening ceremony of the festival\u00a0La Festa Veneziana was held on 31st\u00a0January, and the famous parade of\u00a0boats across the canal Grande started\u00a0the day later. At the St Mark Square,\u00a0in a period from 7th to 17th February,\u00a0the contest for the best carnival\u2019s costume\u00a0took place.\nCarnival of Veince\n8th February was reserved for traditional\u00a0happening, Volo dell\u2019Angelo/\u00a0the Angel\u2019s Flight. Only one day before,\u00a0the happening Festa delle Marie\u00a0took place, where 12 girls were selected\u00a0in memory of the Venetian doges\u00a0who were, once a year, choosing 12\u00a0beautiful, but modest girls, and gifting\u00a0them with jewels and dresses.\nFor this year\u2019s exclusive festivities,\u00a0for which the ticket price went up to\u00a0several hundred euros, the organizers\u00a0announced numerous interesting events,\u00a0of which, as tradition, stands out\u00a0great glamorous masquerade ball on\u00a0the love day – The Saint Valentine\u2019s\u00a0Masquerade Ball.\nThis year\u2019s St Valentines Masquerade\u00a0Ball was held in the Venetian Palace\u00a0situated at the beautiful Grand Canal.\u00a0The host of this masquerade was\u00a0none other than Casanova himself,\u00a0with his attendance from the famous\u00a0play Commedia del\u2019 Arte. The hosts,\u00a0dressed in luxurious Venetian costumes,\u00a0with the music and the atmosphere\u00a0of the lavish palace, evoked this\u00a0feast for the visitors.\nAll the guests of this\u00a0precious ball\u00a0had the privilege to enjoy the palace in which masquerades have been organized\u00a0for hundreds of years.\nThis year, with its diverse program,\u00a0Venice again justified the expectations\u00a0of many tourists who were hiding\u00a0their faces behind the colourful\u00a0masks and lavish costumes.\nThe carnival atmosphere reigned in\u00a0all Venetian streets and squares.\nThe post CARNIVAL OF VENICE – THE CITY HIDDEN BEHIND MASKS appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2015-03-02T13:23:27+01:00", "date_modified": "2017-03-22T16:47:50+01:00", "author": { "name": "Miroslava Jeremic", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/author/miroslava/", "avatar": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Miroslava.jpg" }, "image": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/carnevale-venezia-11-e1426719750415.jpg", "tags": [ "carnival", "carnival of venice", "masks", "venice", "Hot topics" ] } ] }