In Italy, Carnevale marks the final festivities before 40 days of Quaresima (Lent) begin on Ash Wednesday.
Major celebrations take place on Shrove Tuesday, known in Italian as Martedì Grasso, or Fat Tuesday.
Although this is referred to as the official date of Carnevale, many towns and cities across Italy kick off the parties and parades weeks in advance.
There is much debate surrounding the origins of the term ‘Carnevale’.
The consensus seems to suggest that the word derives from the Latin carne vale, meaning “farewell to meat”.
This theory is linked to the fact that people indulge in copious amounts of rich food during the festive period, especially on ‘Fat Tuesday’, before restraining themselves during Lent and refraining from eating meat, particularly on Ash Wednesday and Fridays.
Today, famous specialties devoured during this time include crostoli (ribbons of light, fried pastry sweetened with icing sugar), lasagne, and sanguinaccio, a chocolate custard- or sausage-like dessert made with pig’s blood (not for the faint-hearted).
Like most Italian festivals, Carnevale is a centuries-old ritual, and has its roots in pagan traditions.
Versions of the event date back to ancient Roman and Greek times, with celebrations of the Greek God Bacchus, and the Roman God Saturn.
These occasions were related to the end of winter and the coming of spring and, in turn, new life.
With the introduction of Christianity, the festivities evolved into Christian traditions and, because of the time of year they occurred, became associated with the beginning of Lent.
Carnevale was first recorded in Venice in the thirteenth century, and the city has become famous for its elaborate celebrations since.
For two weeks in the lead up to Martedì Grasso, Venice transforms into a spanning stage for actors, dancers and musicians, who perform jaw-dropping acts before the public.
Visitors and locals dress up in elegant costumes and flaunt famous Venetian masks, which are an emblem of the city and are sold throughout the entire year.
Masquerade balls and street parties are held not only in Venice, but across the entire country, and sit at the top of to-do lists for tourists in the Belpaese during this time.
Another town famous for its Carnevale celebrations is Viareggio, in northern Tuscany.
Residents of this coastal commune begin their festivities five weeks before Lent, and visitors flock from all over the world to witness the parades and performances, and the elaborate floats or carri that roll through the streets.
While Venice and Viareggio are the most well-known locations for Carnevale partying, even the smallest villages in Italy take part in the fun, from the north all the way down to Acireale in Sicily.
Aside from the colours and excitement of the costumes, masks and floats, Carnevale is recognised as a period of fun and mischief, where pranks and jokes are aplenty.
After all, they do say that, “A Carnevale ogni scherzo vale” (At Carneval anything goes).
