Venice Carnival and the traditional start of the New Year

Venice Carnival – Venice during the carnival becomes an extraordinary, fairytale-like place, eagerly visited by thousands of tourists from around the world.

The carnival in Venice has a long and tumultuous history. Organized for almost a thousand years, it has experienced its highs and lows.

During the dark Middle Ages, when a gloomy shadow of fear and superstition fell upon Europe, festivities, music, and dances were prohibited. It took a long time for the Enlightenment and Romanticism to restore the splendour of ancient customs. People once again took to the streets adorned in masks and beautiful, intricately prepared costumes.

Venice is the European carnival capital

Today, Venice, like never before, shines with lights and glitter. Artists from all over the continent, and even the world, gather in the city on water to kick off the annual season of festivities with a remarkable performance.

The city transforms into a vibrant and lively place. People in beautiful Venetian masks and elaborate costumes twirl on the streets. The residents of Venice go to great lengths to attract the attention of visiting tourists. People dance and laugh, and the atmosphere of joyful celebration is contagious to everyone.

Carnival begins in Venice

The first day of the carnival is very busy, especially for the artists preparing for their performance. Preparations and rehearsals have been ongoing since morning. Music resonates here and there, and in quiet corners and narrow streets, lost between the canals, dancers practice their routines.

The atmosphere of anticipation and mild tension is palpable in every part of the city. In shops and restaurants, people exchange gossip about what they might witness tonight.

As dusk falls, reaching the climax of excitement, tourists, and Venetian residents gather along the main canal in the city. The anticipation of the performance is not dull; nearby, music plays, and colourful lights crawl up the old buildings, transforming them into ancient wrecks floating on the water.

Carnival madness and us in its centre

We were fortunate; Magda had rented an flat for us a few weeks earlier in one of the buildings in rights next to the main canal in the city. Thanks to that, we could watch the performance from the windows of our room.

Just before dusk, the crowd on both sides of the canal began to thicken. The music faded, and complete silence fell. Everyone held their breath, gazing into the darkness enveloping the northern part of the Cannaregio canal.

Suddenly and unexpectedly, light burst forth, but not on the water, as everyone anticipated. A large sphere illuminated the sky, as if magicians had magically pulled the silver moon down to the earth.

Gradually, the radiance spread in all directions; other lights sparkled – there were plenty of them. Emerging from the thick fog that appeared at both ends of the canal, boats floated. On their decks stood rowers, propelling them towards the mesmerized onlookers with broad strokes of their oars.

The famous flight of the Angel at the beginning of the Venice Carnival

Between the hard-working rowers stand dancers and actors performing a mysterious, dynamic art. After the first pair of boats, more appear, adorned and beautiful, but not the objects of admiration. Thousands of heads lift, gazing at a beautiful dancer twirling on a trapeze attached to a balloon shining like silver.

The Flight of the Angel has been an unchanged element of this art for hundreds of years. The impression is extraordinary, and the artist dancing high above the water seems unreal and ethereal, much like the entire atmosphere of this place.

The balloon drifted away into the night, but only now, on the water, did the performance pick up pace. Jugglers, fire swallowers, and dancers emerged. The music shifted from gentle to harsh and decisive. Actors on the water stage reacted to the change, and another stage of the performance began.

From the boat decks, airy decorations soared high. Water creatures, plants, and magical figures. The boats sailed up the canal and returned, passing others coming towards them. The music accelerated again, and actors and dancers with it. The action gained momentum, but suddenly… it started getting darker and darker. The music hushed, and people still stood as if petrified.

An hour passed, and we didn’t even notice in the window.

When darkness fell, and the magic disappeared into the fog with the artists, the crowd on the streets around the canal stirred as if awakened. As everyone dispersed, and there was no one left, Magda and I still stood at the window, not fully knowing what was true and what our imagination had created.

Flat on a canal in Venice

After the performance, the owners of the building where we rented the flat invited us to a solemn, family dinner. There, at the traditional Venetian table, we learned that the house we were living in had belonged to our hosts for nine generations. We listened to many interesting stories that we would probably share someday.

We were also informed that Venetians dislike parting with things that have been in their homes for generations. This explained the piles of furniture, carpets, and everything accumulated in homes over generations, now stuffed in various corners.

Venetian homes are grand, with high and beautifully decorated rooms. Unfortunately, the stacks of paintings and other items crammed wherever they could fit didn’t add charm to such places. On the other hand, within all that clutter, there would be plenty of items that could adorn many museums.

Of course, the entire house is illuminated with lamps and chandeliers from the nearby island of Murano. The colourful glass used for their production is unmistakable and cannot be confused with any other.

The start of the carnival lasts for the next few days

Performances and concerts continue uninterrupted for the next few days. Artists give their all, people have a great time, and warm sangria and cold grappa flow in streams in each of the hundreds of intimate restaurants. It’s a fantastic time and a fantastic place.

We spent only a few days in Venice, but the famous water show we witnessed will remain etched in our memories forever. Fortunately, during that magical moment, I didn’t forget that I had a camera in my hand. Thanks to that, you and others can now see a snippet of that performance. Of course, the film is just a glimpse, and you won’t feel what we felt, but it’s better than nothing.

Interesting facts related to the carnival in Venice

• During the carnival in Venice, everyone greets each other. This custom dates back to the times when people wore masks during the carnival and were considered equals.
• On the St. Mark’s Square, characters in beautiful costumes and masks stroll around during the carnival. Hidden beneath these disguises, people go to great lengths to make the best impression because every day there’s a chance to win a substantial prize for the most beautiful mask. Besides the prize, fame, and prestige await the winner.
• On February 7th, following an ancient tradition, 12 women named Maria are chosen from the residents of Venice. They lead the procession that opens the carnival celebration. They are beautifully dressed in stylish costumes, and at the end of the carnival, the most beautiful one among them is selected. All residents in the city can cast their votes.
• Venice was once renowned for its daring and bold circus artists. To commemorate these past acrobats, every year during the opening of the carnival in Venice, the famous Flight of the Angel or Flight of Fame takes place.
• Each year, the carnival in Venice is held under a different theme. For example, it may focus on traditions and arts from ancient Venice. This year, the carnival commemorates the first moon landing that took place in July 1969, marking the 50th anniversary of that event.

Polish version