The Carnival of Venice has a common origin as other carnivals in the world. The Carnevale of Venezia as is with carnivals custom on the last day before spring Lent. The fasting was without meat, therefore meat had to be consumed before Lent, and this is the origin of the word carnival (Carne = meat Vale = valid, farewell, hence, Carnival).

The Carnival had probably a non religious meaning, because the social reversing, change of roles, drinking, disorder, plays, costumes and masks, dancing, parades and festivals all over Venice, have no religious attributes.

The Carnival of Venice is the occasion to hide beneath a mask and to change a role people have in ordinary life. Costumes often represent characters from roman mythology, other costumes are related to nature, to life styles and historic eras, to church characters, and to characters from the comedia dell’ Arte. In the last years, there are many masks representing political personalities or some trend in the society. A doctor wearing black robe and white mask, a mask from the comedia dell’ Arte, is the most famous character in the Carnival of Venice.

It was only in 1980 that the Venice Carnival tradition had some new life after a long period of almost forgotten usage of Carnival masks. The Carnival in Venice takes place each year in February and during this period the streets fill with artists, acrobats and musicians and the whole city is filled with people and very lively. We can say that at moments it is too lively with thousands of visitors on the narrow streets and hustling through a crowd. Apart from the happenings in the streets, there are also masked balls and gala dinners. Venice Carnival population attended official festivities in the public squares, with dances, music, theatre performances, live entertainment with acrobats, tightrope walkers, puppeteers, street entertainers and fireworks.

The carnival in Venice is a hymn to beauty, joy and friendship, Venice at that time becomes a wonderful scene in which fervent actors can be admired in their own self-made costumes. The masks impart some mystery to these costumes,

Venice Carnival masks fall into several categories: Commedia dell’Arte masks are based on traditional characters similar to Harlequin and Pierrot. Costumed characters parade and preen throughout the day, happily posing for armies of photographers. Costumes can be hired at shops throughout the city, but they may be in short supply if you don’t book them promptly.

The Carnival is a must-see for anyone remotely interested in fashion, style, or for a photographer taking photos in the extraordinary habitat of Venice, with costumes ranging from elaborate formal Regency outfits, through bizarre and expensive designer kit, to bizarre and cheap home-made kit, to large family groups shuffling around dressed as a King or Queen with a court following close.