Several thousands of masked residents and visitors attended the opening ceremony at St. Mark’s Squarewhile shall to be held on on Sunday the main event, the traditional “Flight of Angels”, during which costumed people, representing angels, going down the rope stretched from the top of the tower on the most famous Venetian square.
During the festival, whose theme this year is “Life is a theater” will be organized daily theater performances, concerts and balls.
Carnival, which will last until 21 February, will be completed in the same place in the group with a kiss and a big fireworks display at midnight over the Venetian lagoon.
Carnival 2012: February 11 – February 21
Carnival 2013: February 2 – February 12
Carnival 2014: February 22 – March 4
Carnival 2015: February 7 – February 17
Carnival 2016: January 30 – February 9
History of Carnival
The Carnival of Venice dates back to 2 May 1268 and it is one of the oldest and most popular carnivals, along with the famous Brazilian carnivals, in the world.
About masks
Masks made the Venetian Carnival unique. In the past, citizens would hide their true identity and social status behind a mask, and so for the carnival period Venice overturned social order. In this way, Venice temporarily overturned her social order. Some of the masks depicted Commedia dell’Arte characters. Others were more sinister. The white-beaked mask so famous from photographs is that of the plague-doctor; the beak echoes a doctor’s long breathing apparatus that held a sponge doused in vinegar, thought to hold the plague at bay. The Doges were frequently exercised by the dangers masks allowed, and passed laws limiting their use to within the carnival period; if you wore a mask at any other time of year, penalties were severe.