The word carnival (Italian: carnevale) possibly comes from the Latin carnem levare or carnelevarium, which means to take away or remove meat!. A more probable etymology for the word carnevale may be derived from the Latin carne + vale, meaning "farewell to meat". Developed around the Roman Catholic festival of Lent (Quaresima - derived from the Latin term Quadragesima, or "the forty days"), carnevale was associated with the pre-Lenten festivals practiced on and around Martedí Grasso (Shrove Tuesday) or Mardi Gras (trans. Fat Tuesday).
Photo: Vittorio Rosso Archive
Traditionally, the forty
days in Lent would mark a season of sorrowful reflection,
fasting and abstinence from fruit, eggs, meat and dairy
products. Although carnevale is first mentioned in documented
sources in 1092 during the Dogate of Vitale Falier, the history
of Venetian carnival is thought to have originated from an
annual celebration of Doge Vitale Michieli II's victory over
Ulrich II of Treven, Patriarch of Aquileia in 1162. Ulrich II
was taken prisoner together with 12 vassals who were allied to
the feudal Friulians in a rebellion against the Republic's
(Italian: Serenissima Repubblica di Venezia) control over the
territory of Grado. Ulric was eventually released on the
condition that he pay an annual tribute to Venice in the form
of 12 loaves of bread, 12 pigs and 1 bull. During this period a
tradition began of slaughtering a bull (representing Ulric) and
12 pigs in the Piazza di San Marco around Shrove Thursday
(Veneziano: Zioba Grasso) to commemorate the victory. The first
documented sources, mentioning the use of masks in Venice can
be found as far back as the 13th centaury. The document
describes the the practice of masked men throwing scented eggs
at ladies and its prohibition by the council (Venetian Laws,
1268 May).
The etymology of Bauta is uncertain: Tramatar believed it may be derived from the German verb "behüten", that is to protect (the wearer).
)
Alternatively, Durante
and Turato refer to the Veneto-Italian "bau-bao", which was a
bogeyman like character used by adults as a method to scare
children (Danilo Reato).
"Se non stai bravo viene il babau e ti porta via." - (trans.
"if you do not behave, the babau will come and take you
away").
The original elements of the Bauta
disguise comprises of either a separate black or shining white
face-shaped mask ("larva" or "volto"), a black cape or veil of
silk, a cloak
(tabarro) or mantle, and a three-cornered ("tricorne")
hat.
Commedia Dell'arte (trans. "comedy of professional artists" or "comedy of humours"), also known as Extemporal Comedy, was a form of improvisational theatre which began in the 16th century and continued to be widely popular up until the 18th century.
Photo: Jaques Callot, Balli di Sfessania
(1621)
The performances were improvised
by each theatre company around a repertory of stock
conventional situations, which tended to revolve around the
topics of adultery, jealousy, love and old age.
In 1369 the the Great Council encouraged the annual
battagliola universale held on the first day of every new year
(Museo Correr, Codici Cicogna 3161, 1670/36). However, the
battagliole were outlawed by the Council of Ten in 1505, but
pre-arranged fights continued to be organized to celebrate the
arrival of foreign dignitaries and diplomatic missions to
Venice throughout the sixteenth centaury. (Consiglio dei Dieci,
proclami (CDP), filza 1, 12 Sept 1505)
Documented sources in the Museo Correr describe staged fights
over particular bridges or other areas - guerre di cane (wars
of the sticks) and guerre dei pugni (wars of the fists) between
the two leading factions of Venice, the Castellani, who were
associated with the districts of the Sestiere di Castello, San
Marco and Dorsoduro, and the Nicolotti, residents of San Polo,
Cannareggio and Santa Croce. By the mid-1600s, the captains
(caparioni) of the factions had limited the battagliole by
mutual arrangement to a small number of locations, the bridges
at San Barnaba (Ponte dei Pugni), Santa Fosca, and San Marziale. (Museo
Correr, Codici Cicogna)
During the period of carnival and other civic
festivities the gangs would challenge each other in games such
as the Ballo della Moresca & The Forze d'Ercole. (Robert C.
Davis, 1994, pp.vii + 232). These games commonly reflected
various Venetian attributes and celebrated historical events.
The theme of War could be identified in the Macchina dei Fuochi
(Machine of the fires/flames), the Venetians' dexterity and
martial prowess in the storming of the walls at Aquileia in the
Forze d'Ercole (strength of Hercules, Human Pyramids), battle
in the Ballo della Moresca (Dance of the Moor), justice in the
Taglio della Testa del Toro (taglio from the the head of the
bull, decapitating the Bull) and peace in the Volo dell'Angelo
(Flight of the Angel) or Turk
The Forze d'Ercole consisted of two human pyramids,
representing two popular factions of the town. These were the
Castellani, (the inhabitants of districts of the Sestiere di
Castello, San Marco and Dorsoduro who challenged the Nicolotti
(the inhabitants of Dorsoduro, near to the Church of San Nicolo
dei Mendicoli).
The Volo del Turco (the flight of the Turk), later called Il
Volo dell'Angelo (the flight of the Angel) celebrates an
exhibition that was originally given by an Turkish acrobat in
the 16th centaury and later by volunteer Arsenalotti (from the
Arsenale). From a barge docked by Saint Mark's, the Turk would
climb a rope aided by a balancing rod to the top of the bellfry
of the belltower (Campanile) and then descend upside down along
the Loggia Foscara of the Palazzo Ducale, giving flowers and
reciting poems to the Doge.
)
From the middle of the 15th century to the end of the 16th century, the organisation of the carnival festivities was delegated to the Compagnie di Calze. These associations of young Venetian nobles could be distinguished by their variously multicoloured patterned hose.
Each stocking group had
imaginative names which were inspired by and reflected
particular virtues; Florid ones, United ones, and of the
Concorde (Floridi, degli Uniti, e dei Concordi); Others,
derived their names from contemporary works Ortolani,
Zardinieri, Cortesi and the Sempiterni.
The aim of these groups was to create and prepare the
entertainment and shows during the carnival. Between 1487 and
1565 there were 23 different groups throughout
Venice.
On October 17th, 1797 (26 Vendémiaire, Year VI of the French Republic) Venice became part of the Austrian-held Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia when Napoleon signed the Treaty of Campo Formio. The Austrians took control of the city on January 18, 1798 and it fell into a decline which also effectively brought carnival celebrations to a halt for many years.
Banned by Mussolini's fascist party during the 1930's, carnevale was subsequently revived by a number of local artisans around 1979. Since then the "Carnival of Venice" has grown to become an internationally renowned event, celebrated by tourists and Venetians alike. Of the many different types of events celebrated each year during the carnevale the Gran Ballo della Cavalchina at the Teatro La Fenice (The Feniche Theatre) is considered as the the most spectacular and exclusive of all the Venetian masked balls.
)
Photo: Copyright © Fondazione La Teatro
Feniche
More recently Venetian carnival masks have been introduced to popular culture in the form of director Stanley Kubrick's Hollywood blockbuster film of 1999, "Eyes Wide Shut" (Tom Cruise & Nicole Kidman). Starring Tom Cruise, who plays the part of a New York City doctor. The plot revolves around the adventure of Cruise's character (Bill Harford) as he learns of and then infiltrates a sinister group of wealthy hedonists engaged in a bazaar bacchanalian masked ball.
Photo: Copyright © 1999 Warner
Brothers
The modern Venetian Carnival culminates on the
Tuesday before Ash Wednesday (known as "Mardi Gras"),
commencing two Fridays before the Tuesday. Venice carnival
dates therefore vary annually, in step with Easter as
follows:
Carnival 2007 - February 9-20
Carnival 2008 - January 25-February 5
Carnival 2009 - February 13-24
Carnival 2010 - February 5-16
Home |
Carnival
Masks | Feather
Masks | Vanity
Masks | Capes &
Hats | Weddings
Blanc
Masks | Shopping
| Postage
& Packing | Terms
& Conditions
History
of Venetian Carnival Masks |
Venetian Carnival Map
Contact
Us | Enquiries
| Site
Map |
Add To Favourites
Copyright © 2006 Venetian Masks Shop. All rights
reserved.
No part of this site may be reproduced without our written
permission.
