![]() Later on in the Venetian Carnival ritual, this mask assumed the purging qualities of a lucky charm against contagious disease. The doctors wore it with a black cloak and gloves, filling the ‘becco’ (beak) with spices and medicinal herbs to neutralise the infectious germs of the plague. The ‘Plague Doctor’s mask is not a traditional Carnival one, rather it was used to protect the wearer from the terrible pestilence which struck Venice in 1630. The bautta is made up of a cloak (tabarro), a lace cape and a black silk hood (zendale), a three-pointed hat (tricorno) and over the face a white mask (called a ‘larva’, which word derives from the latin and was used when referring to ghosts and spectral masks) which guaranteed anonymity. While elsewhere the mask represented a personality or state of mind, here it served only to hide.Ī mask designed to this end had to be inexpressive, anonymous and functional. The real Venetian mask is the bautta which could only have developed in this city. That is why carnival in Venice ended up lasting for several months. It represented here an ‘excuse’ to disguise oneself and take part in the worldly, festive atmosphere of the city. So Carnival, a cultural phenomenon present in many societies, acquired a separate and special meaning. To such a degree that the wearing of masks became a status symbol and the Venetian Republic was obliged to pass specific and prohibitive decrees. The mask offered anonymous licence and at certain times in history was over-used. In such a climate the mask offered the sole opportunity of distinguishing oneself further or to be considered everyone’s equal, in a heterogeneous society with strong social barriers. In those times there was a climate of wide-spread partying in which the poor and rich alike disguised in masks could mingle in the streets and squares, a period during which class and gender distinctions were relaxed. Very often however the celebrations started as early as October.Įtymologically the world “carnevale” derives from the Latin: ‘carnem levare’, popularly translated as ‘carnevale’ or ‘carnasciale’, because originally it referred to the final meat (carne) banquet which would be held just before the period of abstinence and Lent fasting.Ĭarnival end on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, or 40 days before Easter, when Lent begins.Ĭarnival has always represent a ‘folk celebration’. During the period which usually lasted from 26 December to Ash Wednesday, Venetians thronged the streets to celebrate, wear ing masks and costumes. The earliest reference to ‘Carnevale’ is to be found in a document where the word is used for the first time by the Doge in 1094. Carnival have ancient origin dating as far back as 4000 years. ![]()
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