Carnival

Carnival (Ital. Carnovale; from late Lat. carnelevamen, 'a solace of the flesh'; incorrectly explained as if meaning 'farewell to flesh,' as in Byron's Beppo), a festival which originally began on the day following the feast of the Epiphany, and continued till midnight on Shrove-Tuesday. With Ash-Wednesday of course began the fast of Lent, which made an end of the preceding feasting, masquerading, and buffoonery. In later times, the Carnival was limited to the time of from three to eight days before Ash-Wednesday. Without doubt the forms and customs still preserved in the celebration of the Carnival originated in the heathen festivals of spring-time; and they still remind us partly of the Lupercalia and Bacchanalia of Southern Europe, and partly of the Yule-feast among northern peoples. Banquets of rich meats and drinking-bouts were the chief attractions of the Carnival during the middle ages. Shrovetide, or Shrove-Tuesday, called also Fasten-Even or Pancake-Tuesday, was a relic of the English Carnival, and formerly a season of extraordinary sport and feasting. The rich commenced the festive time at the feast of Epiphany, or on 'Three Kings' Day; but the middle classes restricted their days of revelry to the week immediately preceding Lent; while the poor indulged in only a few days of mad mirth. The several chief days of Carnival had distinct names, such as 'fat' or 'greasy Sunday,' 'blue Monday' (or 'fools' consecration'), &c. The Tuesday before the beginning of Lent was especially styled Carnival—the Fastnacht of the German people. In Germany it is celebrated in the cities of the Rhine provinces, but has even been revived in the austerer north—in Leipzig, Hamburg, and Berlin. In most countries the celebration is confined to wearing of masks, processions in costume, and masked balls. In the south of France and throughout Italy, especially in the cities, it is still a popular festival of universal observance. Venice used to be pre-eminent for the splendour of its carnivals; that of Rome is now the best known. Here, races of riderless horses (barbèri) along the crowded Corso are one of the chief items in its celebration; as also here and elsewhere the throwing of flowers and plaster confections (coriandoli) from the windows and balconies on the occupants of the carriages and processional cars in the streets, and a return fire from below.