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Fat Tuesday, the last day of Carnevale, falls on March 4 this year. Carnevale celebrations are hugely popular in Italy and some cities and towns, are known all over the world for the creativity and beauty of their parades.
The celebrations in Venice, Viareggio and Sciacca are probably the most famous in the country, and are known worldwide, too. If you decide to visit Italy during Carnevale or simply attend a local Carnevale event, this month’s lesson will prepare you to know some important phrases that will help you get into the right atmosphere!
Carro di Carnevale: Carnevale floats, or carri di Carnevale, as we call them in Italy, are one of the major attractions during Carnevale time. Creative and often irreverent, the carri have political and social satire as their main topic, their parades a common sight in villages, towns, and cities. The most beautiful are those of Cento and Viareggio.
Stelle filanti e coriandoli: Adored by children, but widely used by adults, coriandoli are the equivalent of confetti, a word that, in Italian, actually means sugared almonds! Stelle filanti are the equivalent of English streamers.
Volo dell’angelo: The “flight of the angel” is an amazing event taking place in Venice, host city to what is the best-known Italian Carnival in the world. Thanks to mechanical contractions, a mysterious disguised person jumps off the Campanile of San Marco and “flies” in the air. This tradition was born as a manner to celebrate and honor the Doge, an old political figure associated with Venice, and symbolizes the relevance of the Carnevale in this city.
Maschera: mask. In Italy people usually wear masks for Carnevale, adults and children alike. This happens because Carnevale parties revolve around the idea of the masquerade: all people must wear a maschera.
Costume di Carnevale: Dressing up for Carnevale does not only mean wearing a mask, but fully changing your identity for an entire day or night; a costume di Carnevale, literally a Carnival costume, is often that of a traditional Italian mask, whose looks and personality have been passed on to us from older local traditions.
Lasagna: This dish is really popular everywhere in the world and requires little explanation. It is conventionally associated with Carnevale because it is customary, in many parts of the country, to make it this time of the year, although lasagna remains a popular meal choice all year round.
Martedì Grasso: This is the term Italians use to refer to Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras. This day represents the end of seven “fat” grassi, days. This week of heavy, rich eating is closely tied to its religious origins: During this week people would eat the most exquisite food they had in the house before the beginning of the Quaresima or Lent.
Trombetta: This word represents what is certainly considered a “must” at Carnevale parties. Trombette, party horns, used at Carnevale, can be pretty powerful affairs. One of the most used is the lingua di Menelik, Menelik’s tongue, which not only honks, but uncurls its long, papery arm when played.
Berlingaccio: If you are around Florence, you should definitely visit the city on the Thursday before Carnevale. People celebrate this day with a party exalting the traditional Florentine dishes for this period: the schiacciata alla fiorentina and the berlingozzo, which is a typical cake whose shape is similar to that of a doughnut.
“A Carnevale ogni scherzo vale:’’ This is the true ruling principle of Carnevale in Italy: People will have to accept every joke and prank, as “on Carnival Day, anything goes.” You have been warned! No one will have to get angry if victim of a trick!
Next month’s lesson will focus on Easter phrases in Italian.
This month’s proverb
It comes from the region of Friuli-Venezia -Giulia.
Friulano: La tristèrie si impare cence mèstris.
Italiano: La cattiveria si impara senza maestri.
English: (literally) Misbehavior is not taught by teachers. (Figuratively) Bad behavior is a person’s own choice.
This month’s falso amico
It is fare which in Italian means to do or to make, and not a fare you would pay. One Italian translation for the English word fare is tariffa.
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