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The Signature
Carnevale Fun Kicks Off in Acireale By Dr. Alberto Lunetta, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
et ready to have some fun! As the popular Italian saying G goes: “A Carnevale ogni scherzo vale,” (Any prank is accepted at Carnevale), Carnevale is a week of revelry, cheer,
good food and most of all- crazy fun. Thousands of Italians swarm the streets attending the colorful carri (floats) parades, wearing costumes, playing pranks on friends and having a blast. Carnevale is an Acireale ancient tradition dating back to the 16th century. Celebrations will begin Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. with a Holy Mass led by Acireale’s Bishop Antonino Raspanti in the city’s historic center and will run through Feb. 25. Historians believe that the word Carnevale (Carnival) derives from the Latin word “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. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, falling on Feb. 26 this year. Despite its religious origin, Carnevale has become a pagan celebration through the centuries and in ancient times; many Carnevale-like festivals were celebrated by different cultures. The first written record of Carnevale celebrations held in Sicily dates back to the 16th century. Sicilians used to celebrate “Carnalivari” through dance festivals. Dancers performed shows throughout the streets accompanied by drums and trumpets. Masked revelers from different social classes used Carnevale as an excuse to mingle. The “Jardinara,” (Gardeners),
Carnevale in Ancient Times
ROMANS: Ancient Romans celebrated Saturnalia to honor the god Saturn and in the hope of procuring plentiful harvests. Celebrations included feasting, gift giving, drunkenness, big meals and pranks. Masked parades of merrymaking featuring young boys and girls dancing on allegorical floats were also held through the streets of the cities. It was a time when masters and slaves exchanged roles. During the festival, Romans used to burn the effigy of the “King of ancient Saturnalia.” It was a grotesque puppet 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 Carnevale” is burnt on the evening of Mardi Gras. GREEKS: In ancient Greece, floats were used for the yearly celebration in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine, in order to guarantee fertility and a successful breeding among the animal stock. EGYPTIANS: Ancient Egyptians celebrated the renewal of life brought about by the yearly flooding of the Nile through a joyful festival held in the springtime.
Carnevale (Carnevale) returns to Acireale tomorrow and will run through Feb. 25 animating the streets of the amazing Baroque historic center. It features lighted-up, decorated floats roaming the streets of the city and musicians, and masqueraded dancers riding on the top of dazzling floats carriages and dance to the music to African and Latino rhythms. (Photo by Alessandro Grussu)
“Briganti”(Bandits), “Baruni”(Barons) and “Abbati” (Abbots) were among the most popular masks. During the festivals, aristocrats and politicians were publicly mocked. Revelers also staged “battles” throwing rotten eggs and vegetables at one another which was a popular practice in the 17th century but in 1612, local authorities forbade it due to property damage and injuries to people. By the 18th century, celebrations became less “violent” and turned into comedy plays that were performed by jokers named “Abbatazzi.” Under the authorization of the Bishop, they used to make fun of nobles or priests pretending to read jokes from a big book and taking part in prank competitions. In 19th century, celebrations included the “Casariata,” a parade of flower-decorated carriages, named “landò,” that toured the historic center. Local nobles, paraded on the carriages wearing masks and threw colored sugar-coated almonds and coins at the crowd. Today, people throw “lighter” confetti and foam spraying is also very popular during Carnevale. In the 1930s, Acireale artisans started to create huge allegorical floats with papier-mâché depicting animated figures of politicians, animals and other fantastic subjects that are mounted on a mobile platform and driven in parades. Since then, Carnevale carri have become much more elaborate and spectacular. The first big parade will be held Feb. 8 at 5 p.m. and continue on the following days: Feb. 9, 15, 19 - 25. Besides Acireale’s Carnevale, spectacular festivities will be held in the town of Misterbianco from Feb. 16 - 25. The event is to feature "Italian News" cont’d on Page 11
