Carnival In Italy

You must not miss the festivities during the Carnival if you intend to travel to Italy during the winter months! Carnival is a sizeable last party to eat, drink, and have a good time before the fasting and seriousness of Lent. The celebrations in Italy aren’t limited to Mardi Gras.

Carnival is a unique event celebrated in many Italian towns, particularly Venice, which has a long history and is where visitors from across the world are most familiar with Italian Carnival.

Italy celebrates Carnival for two, three, or one weekend (depending on the city) before Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, 40 days before Easter.

What is Carnival in Italy?

Not only is Carnival one of the most well-liked celebrations in Italy. It’s a Catholic celebration that occurs soon before the start of Lent, 40 days before Easter. It was historically the final opportunity for Catholics to splurge before they gave up meat for Lent. However, today individuals give up a wide variety of items for Lent, not only meat. The celebration is known as “Carnevale” in Italian, where “carne” is the term for meat. You might be acquainted with Mardi Gras in New Orleans or Carnival in Brazil, two major Carnival events.

While there are pre-Christian festivities comparable to the Christian ones and may have inspired the Christian ones, some of the world’s oldest Carnival celebrations date back to the mediaeval era in Italy (as is the case with many Christian holidays). Some claim that the origins of Carnevale are found in early Roman celebrations. No matter where you go in Italy during the festival, you’re sure to witness some masks, costumes, or other celebrations because there are Carnevale celebrations everywhere.

Who Celebrates Carnival In Italy?

In essence, everyone participates in Carnival, and guests are welcome to do so. The largest carnivals draw hundreds of thousands of attendees, whereas tiny communities typically draw the immediate neighbourhood. Italian carnival celebrations are a time for cohesion, amusement, and pleasure. Everyone goes free, dancing and tossing confetti while having a good time. Don’t let the joy pass you by.

Where To Celebrate Carnevale In Italy  

Even the tiniest towns in Italy have their own Carnevale parades, even though everyone is familiar with the masks and parades of Venice. Children from schools will parade through the streets of small towns or ride on team-built floats while school bands play. For the parades, larger cities will assemble floats, musicians, dance groups, and costumes. However, some cities consistently surpass themselves. Here are some of Italy’s largest and most well-known Carnival celebrations:

Carnival In Venice

The earliest Carnival in Italy is celebrated in Venice, which goes back to 1268. It is not the oldest, though, as Napoleon had it outlawed in 1797, and it wasn’t until 1959 that it was brought back. Currently, the two-week-long Carnevale festival in Venice is a whirlwind of ornate costumes, masks, and lavish parties. The Piazza San Marco frequently hosts costume contests and gondola parades. The Volo dell’Angelo, or “Flight of the Angel,” in which a dressed-up woman “flies” (hung on a cable) from the top of the Campanile to the Piazza below, signals the formal start of the event.

Carnival In Acireale

Acireale, a village in Sicily, is well renowned for its intricately designed parade floats constructed of papier-maché and flowers. Although Acireale’s Carnival dates to the 16th century, floats didn’t become a staple of the celebrations until the 1930s. Since then, Acireale has gained notoriety for its floats, most intended to be parodies of well-known historical people.

Carnival In Cento

Despite the fact that Cento’s earliest Carnival festivities began in 1615, it wasn’t until the city linked its Carnival to that of Rio de Janeiro in 1993 that it developed into the enormously well-liked occasion that it is today. With parade floats modelled like those in Rio, Cento’s Carnival is the closest representation of a Brazilian Carnival that you’ll find in Italy. The winning float is flown to Rio so that it may participate in that city’s Carnival.

Carnival In Fano

The month-long Carnival celebrations in Fano feature elaborate balls, masks, and costumes. It is one of the oldest cities in Italy, having been founded in 1347, and has more recently gained notoriety for its papier-mache parade floats. Those floats fling hundreds of pounds of candy every year to the crowds watching the parade, and the onlookers frequently use their catch as weapons to throw against one another.

Carnival In Ivrea

Despite the fact that many people are unaware it is a component of the nation’s Carnival celebrations, Ivrea has become renowned in its own right thanks to its distinctive take on holiday. The Battle of the Oranges, the festival’s crowning event, started in 1808 but alluded to a battle in the 12th century. According to legend, a duke was slain by a serf woman who resisted his attempts to enforce his “jus primae noctis” privilege, which purportedly enabled mediaeval lords to demand a serf lady’s virginity on her wedding night before her new husband was permitted to sleep with her.

The populace rioted after his death and set fire to the palace.

Using oranges as projectiles, people still act out the duke’s army and the rioting mob (known as “Aranceri” or “orange throwers”). The Aranceri are on foot below, throwing oranges at the opposite side while the duke’s troops ride in the back of carts. Just before Lent, a series of days-long battles called “The Battle of the Oranges” take place.

Carnival In Milan

The Carnevale Ambrosiano in Milan is called after the Ambrosian Rite, which states that Lent begins and concludes four days later than the Roman Rite. As a result, Milan’s Carnival celebration dates are never precisely the same as those in the rest of Italy. There are parades and costumes, and Milan’s bakers create the seasonal delight known as chiacchiere, which is deep-fried sweet dough.

Carnival In Oristano

Like many other cities, the Sardinian town of Oristano celebrates Carnival with masks and costumes, but it also incorporates horse sports into the festivities. Sa Sartiglia is the name of a horse race in which riders are dressed in masks and costumes and must thread a sword through a target in order to win. Similar to a joust, but instead of another rider, the riders are shooting at a star-shaped metal target suspended on a ribbon. La Pariglia, a horse-drawn procession part of Oristano’s Carnival, has some riders who do acrobatic feats.

Carnival In Pont Saint Martin

A Roman Consul, nymphs, Roman guards, Saint Martin, and the devil are just a few of the figures that participate in Pont Saint Martin’s “Roman style” Carnival celebrations in the Valle d’Aosta area. Since it began in 1902, many participants have added Roman togas to their Carnival masks.

Carnival In Putignano

Puglia’s Putignano is home to one of Italy’s oldest and longest Carnival celebrations, which dates back to 1394 and frequently begins the day after Christmas. Costumes, masks, and gigantic papier-mache figures adorning parade floats are also part of the town’s festivities. During the event, poets recite humorous poetry on stages in the town centre, and there are four significant parades.

Carnival In Verona

Carnival in Verona is observed with costumes and parades, during which spectators are showered with sweets. The celebrations in Verona are among the nation’s oldest, having started in 1531. The penultimate Friday of the festival, Venerdi Gnocolar, or “gnocchi Friday,” is when the last procession of Carnival is held. Everyone partakes in gnocchi that day, and Papà del Gnocco, also known as “Father Gnocchi,” leads the march.

Carnival In Viareggio

One of the longest carnivals is in Viareggio, where celebrations stretch for a whole month. It was established in 1873 and is distinguished by the enormous papier-mache floats that are paraded through the community. The floats include complex, frequently animated characters. There are concerts and masquerades almost every night, and revellers frequently don costumes and masks. The Viareggio museum, dedicated to the city’s annual Carnival, is open all year.

Why Is Carnival Such A Crazy Time For Italians?

Like many other European customs, the Carnival has a religious foundation. It is your final opportunity to let loose before Lent. Catholics observe Lent, a 40-day period during which they ponder and prepare for Easter. During these 40 days, some Catholics will refrain from doing certain activities, such as eating sweets and meat or drinking alcohol.

Despite Carnival’s religious roots, most Italians who participate in its celebration are not religious. Ultimately, it’s simply a reason to have fun and sing.

What Is The Origin Of Carnival In Italy?

The origins of Carnevale may be traced to paganism, and as is familiar with old celebrations, it was modified to fit into Catholic rites. The day before Ash Wednesday, or Martedi Grasso, is the actual day of Carnevale. However, the parties and celebrations could start in Venice and other parts of Italy a few weeks prior. The weekend preceding Fat Tuesday is typically the busiest for activities and gatherings.

Masks, or maschere, are a vital component of the Carnevale event and are available all year long in numerous stores in Venice, in both inexpensive mass-produced versions and pricey handcrafted ones. People dress up in extravagant costumes for the occasion, and public and private masquerade balls are held.

The largest Carnevale celebrations take place in Venice, Viareggio, and Cento, a tiny town in the Emilia-Romagna area. There are Carnevale celebrations in many Italian cities, some of which have highly odd activities and influences. Check the Carnevale dates if you are considering a vacation to Italy at this time; they might change from year to year.

When Is Carnival In Italy?

Carnevale is the final party before Lent’s restrictions begin on Ash Wednesday, similar to Mardi Gras in France (February 14). There are no restrictions on what can be eaten, drunk, or enjoyed during the celebrations, which can extend from a day to a month. From Sicily’s renowned folk poets to Piemonte’s Battle of the Oranges, Italy is home to hundreds of unique carnival traditions.

Things To Know To Celebrate Carnival In Italy Like A Local

Here are some suggestions for celebrating Carnival in a large city.

Use The Correct Carnival Call

During the carnival season, distinct “fools’ calls” are screamed in each location. 

You Have To Wear A Costume

You must dress in costume if you intend to attend any party, whether in a bar, club, home, or public space. If you arrive without a costume, you will face many jeers. Be cautious not to wear your spooky Halloween costume to the Carnival since the costumes are so happy and funny.

You Will Be Impressed By The Costumes

Whether or not you attend a carnival celebration, you will undoubtedly witness some individuals dressed in incredible (or occasionally not-so-amazing) costumes. It frequently happens that an adult guy disguised as a princess may enter the train as you are drifting off on your way to work.

There Is A Lot Of Singing

Whether or not you attend a carnival celebration, you will undoubtedly witness some individuals dressed in fabulous (or occasionally not so unique) costumes. It frequently happens that an adult guy disguised as a princess may enter the train as you are drifting off on your way to work.

Expect To See Many Drunk People

Carnival is a time to let loose, as this article has explained. Everyone drinks a lot during this period, regardless of age—no matter what time of day it is. At ten in the morning, the streets were filled with large groups of clown-dressed individuals who were far over sixty and highly intoxicated.