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Carnival fun amid cancellation of floats, parades and festivities By Dr. Alberto Lunetta, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs arnival is usually a week of revelry, cheer, good food, and, above all crazy fun. In previous years, thousands of Italians would fill the streets while attending colorful parades, wearing costumes, playing pranks on friends, and having a blast. As the popular Italian saying goes, “A Carnevale ogni scherzo vale,” (which translates to “Any prank is accepted at Carnival”). This year, all Carnival celebrations were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even the dazzling parades in Acireale, which claims to host the “Carnevale più bello di Sicilia” (the most beautiful Carnival in Sicily), were postponed. According to Acireale Commissioner for Tourism Fabio Manciagli, “It was really difficult to plan and organize what would have been an atypical carnival.” Manciagli told the media that he had initially tried to organize scaled-down Carnival festivities for February but later decided to suspend all type of celebrations and rescheduled them to the summer. “We Sicilians are warm people who love to stay close to each other, and Carnival is an occasion to be together, to laugh and joke. We must be confident that we will soon return to smile, stay together and enjoy the events with happiness without giving up our safety,” said Manciagli. Walking down the streets and shopping centers of the Catania province during this past week, one couldn’t help but notice children dressed up in their favorite Carnival costume. Sicilian families did not want to give up to this centuries-old fun
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tradition, so they put on their face masks and came together to celebrate the “craziest time of the year,” even in the difficult time of a global pandemic. Carnival Tradition Historians believe that the word Carnevale (Carnival) derives from the Latin words “carne levare” (put meat away). It refers to the period preceding the beginning of Lent, the austere 40 days during which Roman Catholics abstain from eating meat. Throughout the centuries, despite its religious origin, Carnival has become a less religious celebration. In ancient times, many Carnival-like festivals were held in different cultures. In ancient Greece, floats were used for the yearly celebration in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine, in order to guarantee fertility and successful breeding among the animal stock. Ancient Egyptians celebrated the renewal of life brought about by the yearly flooding of the Nile through a joyful festival held in the springtime. Ancient Romans celebrated Saturnalia to honor the god Saturn in hopes of procuring plentiful harvests. Celebrations included feasting, gift-giving, drunkenness, big meals and pranks. Young boys and girls danced on allegorical floats during masked parades of merrymaking through the streets. Romans would also burn the effigy of the “king of ancient Saturnalia.” It was a grotesque puppet embodying the feast that was publicly burnt at the end of the celebrations. Today, this practice is still performed in many countries. A straw puppet named the “King of Carnival” is burnt on the evening of Mardi Gras. Carnival in Acireale and Sciacca Even though Carnival is usually celebrated throughout Sicily, two towns deserve special attention for their traditions. North of Catania, Acireale boasts an ancient tradition dating back to the 16th century. In Acireale, Carnival celebrations typically begin at the end of January in the historic center and run through midFebruary. The first written record of Carnival celebrations held in Sicily date back to the 16th century. Sicilians used to celebrate “Carnalivari” (the Sicilian word for Carnival) through dance festivals. Dancers performed shows throughout the streets accompanied by drums and trumpets. As the cities of Acireale and Sciacca announced the cancellation of this year’s carnival celebrations due Masked revelers from different social to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sicilians still tried to have a Carnival good time by having their children in classes used Carnival as an excuse costumes and hanging out at malls and strolling along city’ streets. (photo by Dr. Alberto Lunetta) "Italian News" cont’d on Page 11
