Image Credit

Although no one really knows when the first Carnival happened or what its exact historic roots are the first recorded instance of the carnival was in 1296.  The rulers – the Senate of the Republic of Venice – gave the day before Lent over to the people as a holiday.  As was the habit of the time, there was carnage – plenty of it.  Cattle and pigs would be let loose within the Palace courtyard and then ceremoniously slaughtered in an almost pagan manner.  This was an act of civic unity, of course, but the people were not so fine. 

Image Credit

Their own celebrations, which often involved violent confrontations between different sectarian elements within the community, could be extremely bloody.  The carnival today is a much more cultured affair, as can be seen in the remarkable masks on display here.  So how did the mass brawls, the running of animals down the streets and the taking and retaking of bridges evolve in to a closer approximation of what we have today?  As with many local festivities, outsiders came in and spoiled the fun.  Masks were always worn during the festival, but as often and not were simply a good disguise when involved in the breaking of heads. 

Image Credit

By the seventeenth century the genteel tourists of Northern Europe, on their Grand Tour and it was then that the tradition of elaborate costuming as well as masks can about with vigor.  However, it was not the only lure.  The overriding boisterousness of the original carnival may have been muted but the tourists did not only come for the costumes.  There was also the world famous opera – so it was a musically cultural destination too.  However, there were more venal reasons too.  There were the gambling houses – the ridotti – and the ladies of the night.  It was estimated that there would be thirty thousand visitors to the city during the festival which coincided with the arrival of ten thousand prostitutes.  So, people were still using the carnival as an excuse for naughtiness.