KULTURA / CULTURE
THE VENICE CARNIVAL Your guide through the magic of masks and canals
No, it isn’t merely yet another European festival — this is a cultural phenomenon, a fusion of history, theatrics, art and glamour that transforms this famous City on the Water into a spectacular stage
T he Venice Carnival isn’t just a festival — it represents a ver- itable time portal, when the city’s streets, squares, canals and palaces temporarily bring back to life the historical Renaissance and Baroque periods. And at the heart of it all are masks and symbolism of anonymity — in the form of a social game that eras- es barriers and replaces identities with stories. Through music, spectacles, pa- rades and balls, Venice becomes a stage where past and present collide. The city’s annual carnival is tradition- ally held prior to the start of Lent — the 40-day period of fasting that marks the buildup to Easter. It all started back in the year 1162, when the city’s residents celebrated the Republic’s victory over
the Patriarchate of Aquileia. Locals be- gan dancing on St. Mark‘s Square in hon- our of that victory, while Venice made the celebration of the carnival official in the 15 th century. Today’s modern incarnation of the carnival has become a mini rein- vention of that original celebration. The world’s most romantic and intoxicating city comes alive with masses of masked visitors, with tourists and locals alike fill- ing its narrow streets with infectious merriment. Festa Veneziana –
minated and accompanied by music and dance, traverse the canal while the audi- ence watches the show unfold from the banks or bridges. This event introduces us to a great series of festivities that are held along the city’s canals and symbolise Venice’s enchanted entry into this period of celebration. Festa delle Marie (7 th February) One of the most emotional and beautiful moments of the Venice Carni- val is the Feast of the Maries. This event is rooted in a 10 th century legend ac- cording to which 12 modest Venetian brides were kidnapped by pirates and subsequently rescued, only for the doge to present them with precious dow- ries at their collective wedding. Twelve
water parade (1 st February) Opening the carnival is the Fes-
ta Veneziana — a spectacle that trans- forms the Grand Canal into a watery stage. Gondolas and rowing boats, illu-
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