Bright celebration

"In life there is always a place for a holiday" - under this motto certainly be happy to have signed all the fans of Carnival, that is crowded with festivals and celebrations all sorts of parades, dressed in disguises and masks. The prototype of carnival can be traced back in ancient Roman history - in a holiday dedicated to the god Saturn, gentlemen dressed servants and humorously waited on their slaves. However, this carnival "smell" only in medieval Europe - is there and then, to be exact, in Venice in the XIII century, and there are folk festivals, which have received the proud name of "Carnival."

However, in the word "carnival" is just nothing proud - it's just a phrase «carni, vale», which means "farewell to meat". The fact that nearly two-week festival was preceded by Lent before Easter. In the post, as you know, meat products are not used in food - hence the name of a landmark action, during which for the last time before the 40-day abstinence could not afford anything.

I must say, the Venetians made full use of this opportunity. It was during the carnival was time permissiveness - the poor could easily communicate on an equal footing with the nobility, the benefit of a variety of special costumes and masks that conceal the identity of the person giving such a chance. Venice Carnival acquired a dubious fame loud and licentious and vicious actions, which forbade him several times, and at the end of the XVIII century forbidden to stay. And only in the second half of the past, ie the XX century, a movement for the revival of the carnival and the 1980 Venice Carnival back every year for 12 days, paralyzing the city on the water.

Outfits

What were the participants dressed in medieval carnivals and that participants try to dress carnival today (by the way - hire a traditional carnival costume in Venice will cost from 125 euros per day and above)? Around the XVI century to the standard carnival costumes were not all ryadilis someone in that much. Later, however, they moved in the carnival costumes in which characters ryadilis street theater, the so-called commedia del arte, which became wildly popular in Italy. Each suit has become a kind of expression of a character, he testified about the tastes, preferences and sense of humor of its owner. So, briefly acquainted with the main characters present at the carnival in Venice:

Let's start with women's images, the more so that their one-two and obchelsya. So, a character named Columbine, clever and charming maid, has considerable cunning and worldly acumen, clothed in a dress, as if sewn from multi-colored patches in a white apron and matching hat Women's Hat: how to make the right choice . As women had the opportunity rite mistress Columbine, usually bearing the name of Isabella, refined romantic nature, completely divorced from real life. Attire is usually Isabella was the most fashionable and luxurious dresses of the then existing, but certainly too pretentious and grotesque.

Men were much more choice and he begins, naturally, with the two most famous characters - from Harlequin and Pierrot. An illiterate acrobat and clown, prone to fraud and gluttony, Harlequin, Columbine and how, was dressed in colorful robes, as if poverty made up of disparate patches of black, red, green and blue colors. An essential attribute of the image of the Harlequin had a stick and sinister-looking mask. Trustful, always someone hopelessly in love, sensitive and devoted to Piero appeared as loose white tunic with long sleeves too, in white corrugated collar and a hat-cap.

Besides these two heroes of the men were a few characters of the masks that could hide his true colors. Among them it is worth mentioning a few, such as the Captain is a clear picture of any retired fighters, violent man, prone to lie about their own exploits (a la Baron Munchausen), and excessive self-importance. The costume of the character has always been a parody of the military uniform of its time. One of the options "captain" of the image was a character Skaramuchcho, the main difference of which was completely black robe and a black velvet mask.

Also carnival could come dressed as Pulcinella, a kind of Italian parsley. This character is one of the few Italian comedia del arte, whose personal characteristics may vary depending on the wishes of the author. Externally Pulcinella could be recognized by the light free attire, looks suspiciously like a bag of fake hump and a big belly, as well as through a mask with a nose like a bird's beak.

There among the palette of the Venetian carnival costumes and clown suit, which can be easily recognized by the characteristic jester "trёhrogomu" cap with bells. The very same suit can be of a whatever - what is the demand from the jester? In addition, the common are the costumes of two elderly characters merchant Pantalone and imaginary sage Doctor. Pantalone, of course, was dressed in pants Knickers in fashion? , Dark-red tunic and black cloak with short sleeves. A doctor posing as this Masters, presented in a black dress medieval university professors.

Equally significant, as the costumes, if not a major role played in the carnival mask, revealing the participants. In addition to the masks, typical of these characters, masks were distributed to non-heroes of street theater. For example, a very common type of beautiful female masks, combining the name "Venice of Spades." Very popular is still using creepy, designed to scare the mask, called "Bout". There is even a mask depicting a cat - these animals have long enjoyed great respect in Venice. And finally, for the Conservatives is best suitable neutral mask "Volta" ("Citizen"), representing a classical form of a human face.

Locations

Modern life is very diverse carnival. Carnivals are held not only in Venice, but also around the world. Glorified, for example, carnivals on the Spanish island of Tenerife in the German city of Cologne. However, the degree of popularity and popular of the young competitors with Venetian carnival can compete only Brazilian carnival in Rio de Janeiro. In the Brazilian carnival is completely different specificity than his older European counterparts - South American Carnival is dance, dance and dance again. The highlight of the program is to defile the countless dance samba schools. And it defines the nature of the samba carnival costumes Costume: all roads lead to Venice . Each dance school has its own specific thematic area, the so-called enredo, and all the attributes, including the suits should be designed in the spirit of the main theme.

For men, the Brazilian carnival costumes practically invented, all the attention paid to women .  In fact, the Brazilian carnival costumes is not a way to hide, to conceal his identity, but on the contrary, to show the female body in all its natural splendor .  It is actually naked body attached all kinds of sequins, rhinestones, beads, bead embroidery, shells, glass and wood, and all that can shine and attract the eye .  At the head of the sultan worn so long, fluffy, colorful and luxurious feathers, which only can be found .  Liberally used special cosmetics, which covered the whole body .  After the end of the dance fashion show, during which evaluates not only the mastery of the samba, but also the beauty, originality and expensive costumes, carnival garment thrown in a landfill .  Beauty requires sacrifice, and the next Carnival to invent and produce new suit .

Alexander Babitsky