How can the very same celebration be so differently interpreted in each culture? Most cultures in the World celebrate carnival, but each one does it in its own special way.
Get ready to open your mind with The Open Oyster Language translators and culture explorers to take you for a ride along this article.
Origins of Carnival
Most sources claim that Carnival was first celebrated as a pagan hedonist festival in Ancient Greece, which was intended to pay homage to Dionysus, god of wine. fertility, ecstasy feeling and theatre. Somehow differing from what can be witnessed in current days, it might be understood that the ancient greeks celebrated with revelries, theatre displays and rituals of devotion to the god, including blood sacrifice,
The feast has been later adapted and appropriated by the roman pagans and finally by the Roman Catholic Church, as it remains nowadays. It has certainly kept changing a lot lot even since the christian appropriation, especially during colonization period, when the african slaves were allowed to display their ancestral heritage in the visual and performing arts on special occasions, lighting up the event with colours, masks, painted bodies and feathered headdresses .
It is enlightening to realize how much of african traits are displayed in the Americas, Western and Eastern Europe parades still today.
Carnival in Greece
The most remarkable carnival in Greece is in Patras. From January 17 to Ash Monday, the capital of Achaia is invigorated with dances and wild parties, including balls, parades, hidden treasure hunt and the children's carnival.
The Grand Parade on Sunday displays red costumes. The events culminate with the ceremonial burning of the Carnival King.
It's funny to mention that Petra Carnival has been deeply influenced by the Venetian Carnival, even though the first ever mentioned Carnival in history was greek.
The carnival of Xanthi is the biggest in Northern Greece and the second biggest in the country, when various customs of the region are revived.
The "burning of the Jar" marks the end of the carnival events. Crowds of people, locals and visitors, watch the end of the carnival under the glow of an impressive fireworks show.
With noticeable roots in the Dionysian cult and the fertility celebration of the land, praising nature and thanking it for its fruits, greek people roam the streets in disguise, holding wooden phalluses in their hands and teasing passers-by with gestures along with mocking songs.
Carnival in Venice
The Carnival of Venice was the most famous carnival celebration in the Middle Age and is still remarkable nowadays for its elaborate costumes and masks. In 2023, the months of January and February in Venice were highlighted by street art, such as several performances of circus, theatre and music in the municipal area, costume contest, water shows and its classic mask contest.
Approximately 3 million visitors have been coming to Venice every year for the Carnival, which is no surprise considering the magnificence of the municipal organisation to make it astonishing every year since 1979.
The venetian costumes are said to be designed and sewn in order to keep the stand of aristocracy and wealthy class. Such classy garments have inspired the Carnival celebrations in Cologne, Germany.
Carnival in Cologne
Some might say that the first modern carnival was celebrated in Cologne. It is completely different from the rest of Europe, as it begings in November and ends in January.
The most known tradition of this event is the weariless performances of the Triumvirate: a prince, a peasant and a maiden chosen to lead each years' parade and spread cheerful exhibitions filled with music.
Carnival in Brazil
Carnival arrived in Brazil during the colonial period, characterized by various european games, such as the Entrudo. Throughout the 20th century, due to African influence, a series of rhythms and dances became part of the Brazilian Carnival.
Currently, rhythms such as samba, maracatu and frevo are the symbols of this notable event known worldwide for its splendor and elaborate art.
Bibliography:
https://www.encyclopedia.com/fashion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/carnival-dress
https://www.dw.com/en/prince-peasant-maiden-colognes-carnival-triumvirate/video-47750903
https://www.cologne-tourism.com/see-experience/carnival/history/
https://www.carnivaland.net/origin-history-carnival-worlds-oldest-party/
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