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Some three million people gather each year to attend Carnival in Venice. Festivities in the City of Water see locals and visitors alike donning old-world dresses and intricate masks to attend balls lit by chandeliers or to simply stroll along the frenzied streets. But there are more than 70 local, lesser-known Carnival celebrations in Italy, each w...

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In a small village called Satriano, in the heart of Italy’s picturesque Basilicata region, an ancient ritual has been rekindled by the local people. Every February, on the weekend before Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras), 131 men go into the forest. When they emerge, they are dressed from head to toe in branches of ivy. Almost unrecognizable, besides their...

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PS 242 Young Diplomats Magnet Academy in Central Harlem experienced a day unlike any other as they welcomed the colorful spirit of the Italian carnival into their halls. Led by Principal Denise Gomez and Vice Principal Ms. Ellman, the school hosted renowned director and performer Simona Rodano, along with Pasqualino Beltempo, Giorgia Picano, Ariann...

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February 2024, marked a vibrant celebration of Italian culture as the renowned Italian Carnival journeyed to Suffolk County Community College. The event was hosted by Incanto Productions, a distinguished theatrical company dedicated to authentic creative works for educational purposes. It aimed to promote the country of Italy and foster the learnin...

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Venezia and Viareggio are the most famous, but there are other historically significant Carnevali around Italy, Putignano, Cento, and Fano being, perhaps, the names we are more familiar with. We are talking about events with a long history and that, through time, managed to develop a deep and meaningful connection with the territory, often becoming...

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Chiacchiere, bugie, frappe, and cenci. No matter the name, they are a similar Carnival snack—thin, deep-fried strips of a liqueur-enriched dough that are tossed in sugar and munched upon during the festivities. In Venice, arguably home to Italy’s most famous Carnival celebration, they’re known as crostoli or galani.  But these aren’t the only sweet...

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The term Carnevale stems from the Latin expression carnem levare, which roughly translates to an urging to abstain from eating meat. Indeed, the day after Mardi Gras, the climax of Carnival, marks the beginning of Lent, a period extending until Easter, when one can again indulge freely. Meanwhile, Carnival is celebrated with festivities designed fo...

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Carnival season, generally in February, is a great time to visit Italy. During the weeks leading up to Lent, special festivities occur in cities and towns from north to south. Of course, the most famous carnival in Italy is the Carnevale di Venezia, the legendary carnival held in Venice each year. But the town of Cento, in the province of Ferrara i...

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Genderless masked demigods in 16th-century ceremonial garb, terrifying feats of horsemanship, bystanders munching on sugary fried treats, and one coveted tiny tin star: This is sa Sartiglia di Oristano, the island of Sardinia’s strangest and most exuberant event of Carnevale season. For more than six centuries, the town of Oristano — located in the...

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As Carnevale approaches in the runup to Lent and then Easter, Italy comes alive with festivals in February. In the US the biggest such event is New Orleans’ Mardi Gras, but in Italy many cities have their own versions as they celebrate the last fling before Lent puts an end to fun and self-indulgence, ushering in the reflection and gravity of prepa...

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