This week, the globe is rolling around in the rhythms of carnivals. All over the world, people leave their common lives aside and put on colourful costumes and masks and for a moment become mysterious creatures intend to join masquerades and let their dreams come true. One of the oldest annual carnivals in Europe has home in Venice, Italy.
Dating back in the 12th century, after celebrating the victory over the Patriarch of Aquileia, people of Venice took opportunity to wear masks in everyday life. Venice, with its very crowded city centre, did not offer a lot of privacy, so disguised in masks citizens became anonymous. The fear their actions would cause disapproval and judgement by the others, vanished with new mysterious appearance. Masks became symbols for glamorous parties, held under the crystal chandeliers of Venice’s growing wealth, well known for their eroticism, promiscuity and gambling. No wonder Church soon restricted everyday masking practice to limited festival time of the year.
Today, Venetian masks as “The Plague Doctor”, Volto, Bauta, Arlecchino and others, are one of the most known masks in the world. Every year, dozens of citizens of Venice are wearing colourful handmade masks and costumes and pose on Piazza San Marco for tourists and photographers. On the streets you can’t miss the art of the Mascherari (mask makers). The carnival has its peak with “Il volo dell’Angelo”, when Angel on the ropes flies down from San Marco’s bell tower.
