Origins of Carnival

 The Carnival has its roots in many traditions, from the Latin feast of Saturnalia to the Greek feast of Dionysian cults celebrating the start of spring, when masks were used for symbolic representation. It signalled a time in which everything was permitted in an apparent incarnation of the world turned on its head.

In fact, the Carnival was a means of rigidly controlling the impulses. The tendency to excess was merely a benevolent concession for a prescribed period of time. 

In the strictly hierarchical Venetian society, it was deemed necessary to give the most humble classes the illusion of becoming similar to the more powerful classes, albeit wearing a mask: the aim was to diminish social tensions and maintain consensus

An extended calendar

Carnival was prolonged even further. It usually began on December 26, ending on Ash Wednesday, although carnival licence was often given for the wearing of masks from October 1 and it was not unusual to attend parties and banquets during Lent.

During the Festa della Sensa, which lasted 15 days, the use of masks and disguises was allowed.

In other words, Carnival lasted for a few months and this certainly helped to create the image of Venice as a city dedicated to pleasure..

The festivities

Venice's population took part in official festivities in the public square, in particular on "giovedì grasso" (Carnival Thursday), with the Strength of Hercules and the Flight of the Turk (an acrobat who descended a rope from the bell tower of Saint Mark's). There were also fireworks and live entertainment with acrobats, tightrope walkers, puppeteers and street entertainers, all under State control.

As well as these public festivities there were numerous private parties in the patrician houses and palaces, where magnificent balls and gambling took place.
 

Il Ridotto

In this climate of pleasure, there had to be gambling and il Ridotto at S. Moisé, the public gaming house run by the State, became one of the focal points of the Venetian carnival.

Between 1638 (when it opened) and 1774 (when it closed), thousands of masked gamblers let thousands of ducats flow into the State coffers.

It was only open during carnival (which lasted quite a few months), and only the croupiers and the so-called barnabotti (impoverished Venetian aristocrats) were exempt from wearing masks.