Carnivals

Carnival is a festival held 40 days before Easter. It reaches each peak in the party organized before Ash Wednesday. Like so many traditions of modern time it has pagan origin which was incorporated into Christian traditions. Carnival is typical for Roman Catholic communities but it also exists among Orthodox Christians. It is not so common in predominantly Protestant Christian communities.

Carnival is an event where there are no rules, where for a short period of time everything is allowed. Italians have a saying “A Carnevale Ogni Scherzo Vale” or in English “Anything goes at carnival”. The biggest and most famous Italian carnivals are those in Venice, Viareggio and Acireale.

Carnival in Venice, Italy

The tradition of carnival in Venice was revived by the Italian government in 1970s. About 30,000 people participate in the Venetian carnival. In 2012 it will be held from the 11th to 21st of February. The carnival is known for its beautiful masks. There are five types of traditional Venetian masks - “Bauta”, “Columbina”, “Medico Della Peste” (“The Plague Doctor”) “Moretta” and “Volto” (“Face”) or “Larva”.

On the 5th of March there will be “Il Ballo del Doge” or “The Doge's Ball”. It is a costumed ball organized in Palazzo Pisani Moretta. For over 1,000 years the Doge was the highest ranked offical in Venice or Venetian Republic, as it was also know. Palazzo Pisani Moretta is a beautiful 15th century palace located along the Grand Canal. Some 400 masked politicians, business people and other exclusive guests participate in the ball. Each year the ball has certain topic or motive. In 2011 it is "...Because Life is Magic".

Carnival float in Viareggio, Italy

Viareggio is a town located on the coast of Tuscany. Local carnival is especially famous for its parades of numerous allegorical floats made of “paper maché”. Parades are organized on the three Sundays before the Shrove Tuesday, on the Shrove Tuesday itself and on the following Sunday. Observing the whole event is not free. You have to pay to actually be there.

Acireale is the place of the biggest carnival on the island of Sicily. Similar to Viareggio this carnival includes a parade of allegorical floats. The carnival also has different music competitions, chess tournament and big fireworks at its ending.

Maltese carnival (in Maltese il-Karnival ta' Malta) is almost 500 years old. It starts with the ancient sword dance called Parata. It commemorates the victory of the Maltese over Turks in 1565. Perlini and prinjolata are two delicious cakes eaten during the carnival. Kukkanja (Cockaigne) is the traditional game played on the Carnival Monday. It has been part of the carnival since 1721. People gathered at the local Palace Square try to find hams, sausages and live animals hidden behind branches outside the guard house.

Carnival in Cologne, Germany

People all over Germany love their carnivals too. Cities famous for their carnival parades are Mainz, Bonn, Dusseldorf and Aachen. Still, the number one event is the one in the city of Cologne. Two main characters are the “Prinz” (Prince) and “Prinzessin” (Princess). They have their own uniformed soldiers known as the “Prinzengarde” (Prince's Guard). They wear early 1800s style uniforms. They are not ordinary soldiers. They often do not act according to orders. They also fill their rifles with flowers.

The Carnival in Cologne is a very old one. There is a medieval document from 1341 mentioning the event. It has its “Dreigestirn” or “Three Stars”. Characters making this group are the Carnival Prince (also known as “His Craziness”), the “Bauer” (Peasant) and the “Jungfrau” (Virgin). The Virgin is always a man. It is huge honour in the Dreigestirn. Its 11 members are chosen in October. It is not simple as there are 105 historical carnival groups in the city of Cologne.