Since the 5th century, Venetians maximized the opportunity during last days before the beginning of Lent to amuse themselves and savor the pleasures and joy of life.

In 1094 Carnevale was mentioned in a charter of the doge Faliero and in 1269 the Senate approved that they should designate the day before Lent as a holiday (Fat Tuesday). They could then carry the mask, thankful to find a measure of equality lost in the course of an earlier time when under borrowed clothes the noblemen still fraternized with the people.

In return for political inaction, the people became attached to this glorious pomp when conflicts between the big families were forgotten; searching for the festivals of Carnevale, giving them an opportunity for showing all seductions of wealth, all fads of fashion. During Carnevale, life burst with joy, harmony of colors, pomp and luxury. To avoid public resentment, a law forbade the rich men Venetian to wear their jewelry publicly.

In the middle of the multitudes, among the flickering torches and the noise of the trumpets, circulated masks of a thousand disguises in fancy scintillating dresses of gold and gems, and matrons in precious dresses with trains so immense they were carried by maidservants.

In the middle of this mélange, the people were good and peaceful. Seldom did the huge crowd have any brawls. There was no need for police officers or security forces: the throngs passed peaceful and merry across the city like a true family celebration. The people, who enjoy holidays and public entertainment, found both entertainment and pleasure during Carnevale, but especially a freedom of expression which existed at no other time or place. They could criticize and make fun of whomever they wanted when they wanted: during Carnevale, the aristocratic Republic became a democracy in the form of laughter and joy. The rules of precedence faded, only the festival of the Carnevale gathered everyone under its banner. The social release during the Carnevale was a factor in keeping the peace.

The massive arrival of foreigners, (between 20,000 and 30,000, by some estimates) among them monarchs who came to enjoy the entertainment and pleasure that the incognito of the mask afforded them, represents an economic manna for Venice doubled by a unique reputation for freedom and splendor.

“In other states of Europe, the madness of Carnevale lasts only some days: here they have privilege of extravagance six months of the year.” ANGE GOUDAR (1708-1791)

In the 18th century, the Venice Carnevale began from the first Sunday in October to Christmas, then resumed from Epiphany until midnight on Fat Tuesday, when the bell announced the end of festivities. It began again in ascent, for two weeks. And it rose from the dead on every election of a new doge, in Saint Mark or at any opportunity!

The period of Carnevale opened the season of operas and comedies, and all of Venice waited for new shows with impatience. The young person Mozart was present at the Carnevale of 1771.

Carnevale had taken such importance, as even a public mourning could not stop it any more. In 1789, they had held secret the funeral for the doge Paolo Renier! On Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), they set off fireworks in broad daylight, and everything ends with Cavalchina, the last masked ball before Lent and the return to peace. At midnight bells ring to announce the end of festivities. The Venetian Mask

The Republic authorized the mask, and it was protected by it. As long as Carnevale lasted everybody carried the mask, the doge, the priest and even the maidservant and they carried out their business “incognito”. They were concealed as went shopping, visited, and went about their ordinary life; except that the mask made it possible say and do everything they dared!

The mask erased social barriers: from etiquette to conventions to respect. No longer the inquisitor, the priest or monk, the foreigner, the nun, nor the rich or poor man. There was no bashfulness or embarrassment; everything remained “A Masked Ball”.

The black cape (tabarro), the white bauta and the black dominoes under the three cornered hat were first of all signs of folly, joy and secret pleasures. The only rule: have a good time, laugh, and dance and have fun with the group. Venetian Masks and Characters For costumes, they could dress up and endorse the costume of any figure: jobs and style of those that exercised them, as well as all foibles of the human person inspired a lot of people.

They could be which they wanted: a miser, a tinker of saucepans, a charlatan, a lawyer, a beggar, a tooth-puller, a monk, a chimney sweeper, a trader of rat poison, but it was necessary to be able to support the performance of the one whose attire they sported.

There were also deposed kings and princes, these princes of Carnevale whom Candide (Candide in Voltaire's story of the same name) met in the course of meal during the Venice Carnevale! The agile Venetians do not allow themselves to be content with merely wearing costume; they must embody the spirit as well.