History and Traditions of the Venice Carnival Celebrations

The History of Carnival in Venice

The Carnival of Venice, known in Italian as “Il Carnevale di Venezia,” has a long and storied history. Venice was one of the first places where Carnival celebrations became hugely popular, dating back to the 11th century when the city-state was an economic and cultural powerhouse. In the days leading up to Lent every year, Venetians from all classes would take to the streets wearing elaborate masks and costumes as they ate, drank, danced, and generally indulged in wild revelries.

The Masks of Venetian Carnival

A key part of Carnival in Venice was the wearing of masks, which allowed celebrants to shed their societal roles and class divides. Elaborate masks depicting characters from the Italian theater called “commedia dell’arte” were common. Today, mask-wearing and costume parties remain a central part of the Carnival festivities. The masks transport visitors back to medieval Venice, cloaked in the anonymity that Carnival once allowed.

Carnival Spreads Through the Streets

During the Carnival season, music and masked balls enliven Venice’s grand palazzos, while street performers, jugglers and musicians take over the open squares. Citizens and visitors alike don ornate costumes and masks for nights filled with gastronomic delights like fried dough and delicate wine cocktails. The streets, campos, and canals overflow with people dressed in vibrant hues, adorned by capes and tricorn hats.

Signature Cocktails and Wine of Carnival

A vibrant wine culture goes hand-in-hand with Venice’s flamboyant Carnival celebrations. The Northern Italian region of Veneto, where Venice is located, is one of the most prolific wine-producing areas in Italy. The city’s restaurants and wine bars showcase the diversity and quality of Veneto wines during the Carnival season.

The Spritz Veneziano Cocktail

The most iconic cocktail associated with Venice Carnival is the Spritz Veneziano, made from Veneto's bright and floral native white wine, prosecco, mixed with Aperol and soda water. This low-alcohol, bubbly cocktail perfectly suits Carnival’s energetic and ebullient mood. Sipping a cold, refreshing Spritz while nibbling cicchetti in a crowded wine bar is a quintessential Venetian Carnival activity.

Regional Wines Take Center Stage

From sparkling prosecco to earthy reds like Amarone and Valpolicella, the wines of the Veneto region shine during Carnival. Wine bars put the spotlight on indigenous grape varieties and small-production wineries alongside cichetti pairings. Oenophiles can sample wines made from grapes like Glera (for prosecco), Corvina and Rondinella (for Amarone and other Veneto reds) while soaking in the Carnival magic.

Traditional Carnival Pastries and Treats

No celebration in Italy would be complete without lots of delicious dolci - sweet pastries and treats. Venice’s Carnival season delivers decadence by the bite with fried dough pastries dusted in powdered sugar. Known as frittelle or galani, these pastries are the iconic Carnival snack. Street vendors sell piping hot frittelle filled with rich crema pasticcera (pastry cream), zabaione (egg nog and Marsala custard), or delicate ricotta.

Chiacchiere

Another classic Carnival sweet is chiacchiere, which translates to “chatter” or “gossip”. These delicate ribbons of fried dough tossed in sugar pair perfectly with dessert wine for lively late-night conversations. Other names for this treat include crostoli, lattughe, frappe or nastri delle suore ("nun's ribbons") depending on the region.

The Tradition of Carnival Sweets

Indulging in these fried and sugared confections connects modern-day revelers to centuries of tradition. During the days before Lent when dairy, meat, fats and sugars were forbidden, making these treats was a way to use up the rich ingredients before the 40-day fast. Today, bittersweet chocolate and cream also make their way as decadent fillings into frittelle and chiacchiere.

As the nights grow longer leading up to Lent, Venice’s Bacchanalian Carnival spirit lives on in wine glasses filled with bubbly prosecco and spirits soaring along with fireworks over Piazza San Marco. Masked revelers flock to wine bars and costumed balls, shedding inhibitions and their everyday personas. Sweet fried delights line the counters of bakeries overflowing with visitors. The wine, masks, music and indulgence transport celebrants back through Venice’s rich Carnival history.

FAQs

What are the origins of the Venice Carnival celebrations?

The Carnival of Venice dates back to the 11th century when the city-state was a wealthy center of trade and culture. In the days leading up to Lent, Venetians from all social classes would celebrate in the streets wearing elaborate masks and costumes.

What is the signature cocktail drunk during Venice Carnival?

The vibrant, floral Spritz Veneziano is the iconic Venice Carnival cocktail. It's made from Veneto's native sparkling white wine, prosecco, mixed with Aperol and soda water.

What traditional sweets are eaten at Venice Carnival?

Two classic fried dough sweets are frittelle, often filled with custards or creams, and chiacchiere, delicate ribbons of dough topped with powdered sugar. These sweets connect modern celebrations to centuries of tradition.

What makes the masks and costumes of Venice Carnival so unique?

Elaborate masks depicting characters from Italian theater allow modern attendees to emulate the anonymity and mystical transport to the medieval era the Carnival once allowed Venetian revelers.

What wines from the Veneto region of Italy are showcased during Carnival?

Venice’s wine bars highlight sparkling prosecco, as well as regional red wines like Amarone and Valpolicella made from indigenous grapes like Glera, Corvina and Rondinella.