Tag: fat tuesday
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Where Are Your Carnevale Masks?
Hey, guys, where are your masks? For Carnevale, it has been tradition for centuries to dress in costume in order to hide one’s identity. … Let’s start from the beginning. So, “carne” means meat, but really, it means flesh. In this case, flesh is for body. In pre-Christian times, this period of CARNE-vale, before the…
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Carnival in Sicily
Teams of townspeople spend months planning and creating fantastic floats to showcase during Carnevale in Acireale. This animated Zeus from 2017 was a awe-inspiring work of art, especially at night, when the papier mâchè character was lit, as pictured, and he threatened to throw his flashing thunderbolts. During the days and evenings of Carnevale, the…
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The Most Beautiful Carnevale in Sicily
As we approach Ash Wednesday next week, throughout Sicily revelers are celebrating Carnevale. Acireale, where I was for last year’s party, is the place to be! Over the next few days, tens of thousands of people will process through the town’s streets wearing costumes while throwing confetti, eating Sicilian-style almond nougat and other sweets, making…
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Carnevale Acireale At Night
It’s super late after a long day and evening of taking in the tricks, treats, and folk art of Carnevale in Acireale! The best part for me is talking to the people of the town about the festival and what it means to them. Pictured is one part of an elaborate float that featured the…
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The Whimsical Day of Hallow– Carnevale
Halloween as we know it in the US is not traditionally celebrated in Sicily. Today for children it is getting more popular, but really, Carnivale (or Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras, as we know it better) is the holiday when Italians dress in costume to conceal their identities and create lots of mischief. Carnivale is also when,…