Confetti for all at Venice Carnival

In America we have Mardi Gras. The one night of the year all bad behavior is excused and even justified, because the next day the sacrificing of whatever one has chosen for Lent (in my case, chocolate), begins.

Well, one night isn’t sufficient for Europeans, who need weeks to purge all of their guilty pleasures, and who’s “Carnival” subsequently lasts upwards of twenty days.

So in Italy, the entire month leading up to Ash Wednesday is characterized by eating, playing, drinking, and all other pleasure-seeking activity.

They have won my heart again.

How did I actively participate? Well, I went to the heart of where it all started of course, Venice. “Carnevale de Venezia” was first recorded in 1926, as a time for celebration and expression throughout the classes, as wearing masks hid any form of identity between social classes. The events, especially during and after the sixteenth century, celebrated prosperity, myths, and culture.

Today this tradition of self-indulgence sees over one million visitors over the weeks of the festival, with excess of 150,000 visitors passing through St. Mark’s Square each weekend day.

Whatever you think Venice looks like, it’s exactly that and more. Colorful buildings partially submerged in the roads of water scattered with gondolas and bridges (over 450 to be exact) connecting the entire pedestrian network. The only difference is that Venice during Carnival is absolutely crawling with people so that when you first dock, all you see is an ocean of bodies.

When you nervously throw yourself into this sea of hedonistic excitement, you notice that everybody is so happy- wandering around in their masks, getting their faces painted, drinking beer, and throwing confetti- simply enjoying the essence of the holiday. We dutifully participated, getting masks and happily indulging in pizza and other goodies.

I note that Carnival is also apparently the time for serious role playing. Couples decked completely from head to toe in 14th-century attire can be seen everywhere you look, strolling along, smiling for photos and dining at restaurants as if it is something they do every day.


At twilight we did what everybody must do in Venice, and went on a gondola ride. It was perfect timing as the sun had just set and most people had head in for dinner, leaving us the glassy channel for ourselves.

I'm sure it would have been quite romantic if I had not been with four girls.

We coast down the Grand Canal, gliding past both Casanova’s house and Marco Polo’s. We also went to the Ponte De Miracle, known for over 400 years as the “The Kissing Bridge”, and under which Kelsey gave our gondola driver what the bridge so subtly suggested.

Almost every building we passed was unoccupied due to water damage, and since it was dark at this point, our ride became slightly eerie between the watery allies and disintegrating homes. Our driver was telling us how people our age have problems getting apartments because so much of the city is uninhabitable.


Anyways.

After our gondola ride we still had time to kill before our bus left so we went to a grocery store and got snacks. Since we weren’t ready for a full meal yet, I got chicken nuggets and potato bites (not very Italian of me).

Then we snacked and wandered the streets, which at this point had transformed from light, frivolous play to full on raucousness. When all the adults and children are put to bed, the youth will play!

There were hundreds of people in costumes, including Ghostbusters wielding wind blowers that spewed Carnival trademark confetti, and enormous nets which they used to capture me from behind, although the blasting theme song and shooting confetti should have given me plenty of warnings to run.


Italian men catching women with nets...something tells me they can only get away with this kind of behavior is on this particular holiday.

Everybody is loud and singing and dancing in the streets, and I must admit, part of me wanted to stay and experience this crazier side of the holiday.

We get back to Florence around 1:30am, and are still buzzing from the energy of Carnival. So we decide to go clubbing- the obvious thing to do after the longest day of your life: keep it going. Until 7am.

Yes, we are champs.

How I woke up in time for my Fiorentina soccer match the next morning, I have no idea.