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Italian Mardi Gras celebrations : we look at the traditions of Mardi Gras in Italy - what they are and where to find them. Mardi Gras, known as ‘ Carnevale ’ (pronounced car-nay- vahl -ay) in Italy, is one of the most important events in Italian culture and customs - and contrary to popular belief it doesn't only happen in Venice. As with all Catholic countries, the traditions of Mardi Gras in Italy are always interesting, varied - and sometimes just plain mad! They’re given great importance because the weeks leading up to the period of fasting at Lent in the Christian calendar are about celebration and fun, before a tough seven weeks of denial and sombre days. Italian Mardi Gras, known locally as Carnevale, is a spectacular celebration that brings colour, excitement, and centuries-old traditions to life across the country.From the iconic masks of Venice to the funny orange battles of Ivrea, Italy’s Carnival season offers a unique blend of history, culture, and revelry that captivates millions of visitors from around the world each year. Carnevale in Italy, known in the U.S. as Carnival or Mardi Gras, takes place in the weeks leading up to Easter. Think of Carnevale in Italy as a big final party before Ash Wednesday, the restrictions of Lent, and the more pious observances of Easter. One of the most original, folk celebrations in Italy is the celebration of the Historic Carnival of Ivrea, in Piedmont, one of a kind because of the sensational “Battle of the Oranges”: a medieval reenactment staged in the three days around Mardi Gras that revokes the battle between the aranceri a piedi (orange handlers on foot), who represent the population, and the tiratori di arance The tradition of Mardi Gras then spread literally across the world. By the mid-nineteenth century in America it involved floats and lavish costumes and extended to two or more days. And when those extravagances were well received by the people, the celebrations became inevitably longer and more unrestrained until finally we have the amazing Carnevale, Italy’s carnival or mardi gras, is celebrated 40 days before Easter, the day before Lent begins. Although Venice holds the most famous Italian carnival events, there are parades and festivals almost everywhere in Italy, some of them very unusual. Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras, called Martedì Grasso in Italian, is the day when the last handfuls of confetti and the last bonfires burn out in advance of Ash Wednesday. Then it’s time to hunker down and sober up for 40 days and nights of denial during the Holy Lenten Season, the time between Carnival and Easter. From extravagant masks to decadent treats, this two-week celebration of indulgence is a sight to behold. Although February is the month when love is in the air and Valentine’s Day often takes center stage, there’s another winter celebration inspiring revelry in Italy: Carnevale di Venezia. As a celebration before the Catholic season of Lent begins, carnivals can be found in many parts of What Is Mardi Gras? Mardi Gras is a tradition that dates back thousands of years to pagan celebrations of spring and fertility, Quebec City hosts the giant Quebec Winter Carnival. In Italy Essential Mardi Gras Traditions You Can’t Miss. Mardi Gras is a colorful mix of cultural experiences that unite people in amazing ways. It happens in New Orleans and other Gulf Coast cities. These activities make memories that last a lifetime for everyone involved. Traditional Parade Customs. Mardi gras parades are the core of the carnival At the heart of it, Mardi Gras is also a Christian holiday traced to pagan spring and fertility rites dating back thousands of years that has become a popular cultural phenomenon worldwide. And although Mardi Gras is today most closely associated with New Orleans, Louisiana, it is observed in hundreds of cities in more than fifty countries. First, there’s chiacchiere.This deep-fried or baked dough is a tradition in every region of Italy at Carnevale, albeit with a range of names. Chiacchiere is used in Parma, Umbria, Campania, and Basilicata; frappe in Rome, Viterbo, and Ancona; cenci in Tuscany; crostoli in Friuli and Trentino; galani in Veneto; and bugie in Piedmont and Liguria. Whether the first Mardi Gras in the country was held in New Orleans or Mobile, Alabama, is up for debate, but the Louisiana State Museum suggests that French explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville Not Just New Orleans: While New Orleans hosts the most famous Mardi Gras celebration, cities like Mobile, Alabama, and St. Louis, Missouri, also have long-standing Mardi Gras traditions. The World’s Largest Free Party: Mardi Gras in New Orleans is often called the “greatest free show on Earth,” with parades and events open to all. The celebration of Mardi Gras has been a part of cultures for centuries. French for Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras falls on the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent a 40-day period of Mardi Gras, Martedì Grasso, or “Fat Tuesday” is a pre-Lenten celebration that falls the day before the Catholic Holy Day of Obligation, Ash Wednesday.The celebration originated from the religious practice of foregoing meat during the season of Lent in reverence of Christ’s fast for forty days and nights before the Resurrection on Easter Day. It’s more staid than other Carnivals - even Italian Carnivals. No-one in Venice would dream of engaging in the excesses of Ivrea’s traditions of Mardi Gras or the circus performances of Rome's Carnival magic. You won’t find mile-long processions. You won’t find huge floats. You won’t find many fire-eaters or Samba dancers. Expect excess. The modern revival began in the 20th century; millions of people travel to Venice every year for the Carnival festivities. Venice is not the only Italian city to celebrate Carnival, of course. Towns throughout Northern Italy organize official Carnivals, and many of them hold parades with spectacular floats. In German Mardi Gras traditions, who is Hoppeditz? A folkloric fool whose “awakening” marks the start of the carnival season. Which Italian Mardi Gras tradition features a historical “Battle of Oranges”? The carnival in Ivrea. What does the Czech word “Masopust” literally translate to in English? Meat-fast
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