Carnival 1982: Italy

This is the third part of an 8-part series about Carnival 

Dateline: ITALY, February 23, 1982

The word Carnival is of Christian origin. Since the Middle Ages, Carnival has referred to a period following the Christmas Season (Advent plus Epiphany) that reached its climax before midnight on Shrove Tuesday. There is no evidence that Carnival existed much before 1200, but it was certainly a popular festival in Italy long before Columbus set sail for the New World.

As a Notre Dame architecture student, I lived in Rome during my junior year of college (1981-'82). In Italy, the premier Carnival celebration takes place in Venice's Saint Mark's Square.  There, Carnival is spelled Carnevale and the pageantry is spelled che elegante! 

This photo captures the splendor of Carnevale di Venezia

I did visit Venice during that year and have been back since, but so far I have yet to see Venice during Carnevale. I will have to let photos such as the one above (and many others HERE) convey the pageantry and sheer elegance of St Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) in all its regal, pre-Lenten glory.

Someday...

Meanwhile, the Architecture students have an annual costume ball modeled after the one originally held in the Ecole de Beaux Arts or School of Fine Art in Paris. As I mentioned. I have not yet been to Venice during Carnivale, but I was in Rome with fellow Arkies, and we did manage to have some fun!

This photo is more like my own experience of Carnevale di Roma

Naturally, being Notre Dame and all, we took our fun very seriously. Though we had only a student's budget, we compensated for our lack of resources with a student's enthusiasm and zeal. Naturally, being Notre Dame and all, we did also manage to take the season of Lent as seriously as we took the party preceding those restrictions.


As the Italians say, "A Carnevale Ogni Scherzo Vale," or, anything goes at Carnival.