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February 10, 2021 · 11:58 am

Carnevale of Venice Italy: Covid-19 Restrictions Prevail for Mardi Gras 2021

https://www.visit-venice-italy.com/carnival-venice-italy-programme.html

Venice Carnival 2021 Covid-19 Coronavirus restrictions

Update of January 15, 2021: Cancellation of the carnival festivities organized by the city of Venice, such as the flight of the Angel, parades in St. Mark’s Square or the feast of Mary.

At the moment there is no measure that would prohibit people wearing costumes and masks from doing carnival as they usually do individually.

This January 15, it is foreseen in the government decree to appear that all Veneto, including the city of Venice are kept for two weeks in orange zone with bars and restaurants closed (takeaway or delivery allowed) and ban on moving between regions but without the need for authorization to move inside the city.

English: Carnival of Venice. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Venice – Masks (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Carnival of Venice. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Carnival of Venice (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: This shows the buildings known as the Procuyratie Nuove on the south side of the Piazza San Marco in Venice built by Scamozzi c.1580. Picture taken during Carnival, hence the dresses in foreground (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Venetian Carnival usually runs until the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday which is known “Mardi Gras”.

English: Venetian carnival costume in front of a shop in Venice Deutsch: Karneval-Kostüm von einem Geschäft in Venedig (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are usually so many exciting events, check the www.carnivalofvenice.com website for details. The word carnival comes from the Latin for “Farewell, meat!” Devout Catholics are obliged to fast during lent. Since all meat, butter and eggs had to consumed prior to that day, it became an excuse for a party that replicated historical pagan festivities.

Historically in Rome, Saturnalia and Lupercalia festivals celebrated lewd behavior that was beyond the realm of propriety and social order. Popes Clement IX, Pope Clement XI and Pope Benedict XIII were advocates of Carnival celebrations. Venice Carnival festivities declined through to the 1930s, when Mussolini banned it.

Image via Wikipedia

In 1162, when The Republic of Venice defeated Ulrico, the Patriarch of Aquileia, the tradition of slaughtering a bull and 12 pigs in the Piazza San Marco around Shrove Tuesday was initiated to commemorate the victory.

Image via Wikipedia

Carnival Masks made the Venetian Carnival noteworthy. Traditionally, people were allowed to wear masks between the festival of Santo Stefano (St. Stephen’s Day) on December 26 and the start of the carnival season and also at midnight on Shrove Tuesday. Maskmakers (mascherari) enjoyed a special position in society. They had their own laws and their own guild.

Venetian masks can be made with leather or with the glass. Contemporary masks are made with the application of gesso and gold leaf. They are hand-painted using feathers and gemstones.

Image via Wikipedia

Some of the traditional masks depict Commedia dell’Arte characters. Others were more sinister.

Image by Domen Jakus via Flickr

Authentic Venetian Masks are rather expensive because they are so labor intensive. They are sold all year round in Venice. Check out the Carta Alta website for an extensive array of masks at www.cartaalta.com

I like these masks: