The Carnival of Venice is a centuries-old tradition centered around costumes and masks. During the carnival, which typically lasts two weeks leading up to Lent, masked people fill the streets bringing smiles, laughter and parades. The most important days are the last Thursday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Today, St. Mark's Square remains the epicenter of celebrations, hosting events and awarding the best costume. Mask making also remains an important Venetian art, with shops throughout the city producing traditional papier-mâché masks as well as more modern designs.

1. Venetian Masks
The Carnival Today
Costumes and masks
are still the major
attraction of the carnival
The magic of carnival gives
to Venice an enchanted
atmosphere.
English II
Group #1

2. The Carnival Today
The magic of carnival gives to Venice an
enchanted atmosphere. Masked people fill
the streets with smiles and laughter, and
several events are organized all around the
city. The carnival usually lasts a couple of
weeks, but the most important days are
those between the last Thursday and the
very last day, Tuesday. These are called
giovedì grasso and martedì grasso, literally
‘fat Thursday’ and ‘fat Tuesday,’ in opposi-
tion to the following Ash Wednesday that
marks the beginning of Lent, a period
traditionally dedicated to fast. However,
the weekends are usually the privileged
time for tourists and visitors.
The complete program of the carnival can
be found on the dedicated website, but
the center of all happenings is St. Mark’s
Square.
On the last Sunday and last Tuesday of
carnival, a big wooden stage hosts the
award ceremony of the best masked cos-
tume, which is elected after several para-
des that take place during the central days
of the festival. This stage is also the theater
of different plays, where traditional masked
characters like Arlecchinointerpret comic
adventures. It is also possible to participate
to sumptuous masked parties in 18th
century style, organized in ancient Vene-
tian buildings, but the dimension of the
squares and streets is the most popular
one.
The theme of 2016’s carnival is focused on
art and tradition, and St. Mark’s Square is
enriched by stands of Venetian traditional
artisans showing the public their ancient
techniques in producing laces, glass, gon-
dolas, and, of course, masks.

3. Venetian Masks
Since the ancient carnival times, the habit
of wearing masks and costumes has given
birth to a flourishing trade, with specialized
artisans producing more and more extra-
vagant and sophisticated masks. Among
the most famous and diffused costumes,
especially in the 17th century, the so-called
baùta consisted of a particular white mask
under a black hat and a black cloak. It was
even used outside the carnival period to
court someone anonymously.
Women, instead, frequently wore a costu-
me called moretta, consisting of a dark
velvet mask that was held in place by a
button in the mouth. Since the wearer was
unable to speak, this mask was also called
moretta muta, meaning mute.
Costumes and masks are still the major
attraction of the carnival, and Venice beco-
mes the stage of a unique endless parade
of traditional 18th century-style masks as
well as more original and modern varieties.
Visitors are conquered by their charm, and
they usually buy a mask as soon as they
get in the city, so as to fully feel part of the
festival.
You can easily get one for even a few euros
in any of the small stands or shops that
have colonized each corner of the streets.
However, in the city center, ancient shops
or ateliers still produce masks according to
the ancient art. Here, papier-mâché and
ribbons have not been replaced by plastic,
and each product is a true masterpiece,
created with patience and attention to
details.