A Brief History ofthe Venetian Mask (Benátské Masky)

Most of the popular costumes that are worn nowadays during carneval will have as part of the costumes the Venetian mask (benátská maska). This mask has been dated back to the old time in Venice, Italy when commemorating the traditional carneval in this city where everyone will put on a mask just to disguise. The masks for Venice carneval are usually decorated with pebbles and feathers.

While very few people know about the origin of the masks of the Venice, we are seeing them being worn nowadays in many occasions which require guests to be disguised and look somehow pompous.

The traditional carneval of Venice first came about in the thirteenth century where people were expected to adorn themselves in some relics or antiquities of that period. By the eighteenth century, the carneval in Venice (benátský karneval) was celebrated in full blast and it was during this period that we had the most successful celebration. After this time, the carneval celebration started to decline. This decline coincided with the collapse of the Venetian Republic.

After the eventual collapse of the Venetian republic, the carneval was banned in Italy. But when the Republic reclaimed the reign again in 1979, this traditional carneval was restored. And since this period, we are seeing many tourists from every nook and cranny of the globe visiting Venice and Italy just to participate in the celebration.

Venetian traditional carneval will start in February of every year, but people will have started wearing their masks as well as their costumes in December. When it is about ten days to the Ash Wednesday, the carneval will begin in full blast. People will be dining and playing music during the day and everyone will put on carneval costume with the mask.

In the evening time people will gather at the local halls and city squares wearing their costumes and different types of Venetian mask (benátské masky) where they will be treated with all forms of live music from popular artistes. For more information visit website #benátské masky.