Carnival this year will be at the end of February: it starts on 20 February with Maundy Thursday and closes on the 25th with Mardi Gras. The next day will mark the start of the Lenten period, which begins on Ash Wednesday.
How is it calculated?
Carnival falls six weeks before Easter Sunday, which this year will be 12 April.
Carnival in Bergamo and around the world: origins
The Carnival Festival dates back to the Saturnalia festival of pagan origin of the'Ancient Rome. The celebrations were wild and people, wearing disguisesthey could engage in all kinds of pleasure and play in a kind of reversal of the pre-established order.
Today, Carnival represents the last moment of leisure and good food before Lent, during which 40 days of renouncing gluttony and delicacies should be observed. Not for nothing, the meaning of the name 'Carnival' is 'to deprive oneself of meat'.understood precisely as the last opportunity for enjoyment.
Carnival: typical celebrations
When one says 'Carnival', many things come to mind:
Carnival costumes, with which not only children, but sometimes also adults dress up in themed parties dedicated to the event.
Parades of floats and other colourful and acrobatic performances in the streets of the city. We remember the famous Carnival of Venicea, world-famous event
Venice Carnival Mask Typical Carnival sweets: chiacchere, frappole, pancakes - different and equally good versions of the characteristic cake of this holiday
The playful spirit: as they say: 'At Carnival every joke counts'
Carnival masks
Harlequin and Brighella of Bergamo
Gianduja of Piedmont
Pantalone and Columbine of Venice
Pulcine and Scaramuccia of Naples
Carnival in Bergamo and its province
Let's now look at some special events to go to in the coming days:In Bergamo, the Traditional Half-Lent Parade of Floats Sunday 13 March. The event is capable of attracting an extraordinary number of visitors. But an even more special event is the historic burning 'Rasgamènt de la Égia'.. Finally, there will be the third edition of the 'La Ègia piö bèla' (The most beautiful palace).
In province of Bergamo several events are planned, including: the theatre show 'The Arlechi, servant of two masters'. a Under the Mountainchildren's masked parade and competition Miss and Mister Pancake in Clusonethe Pro Loco Treviglio Carnivalthe Carnival 2020 at the Castle of Malpaga. Every village in the Bergamo area has organised its own event... You are literally spoilt for choice.
A Milan is celebrated on Ambrosian Carnivalo. The 45th edition of Carnival, organised by the Archdiocese of Milan, will have the theme of Climate. On 29 February there will be performances by 80 street artists who will parade through the city.
In Trezzo, on the River Adda, a somewhat unusual float parade will take place at 8.15 p.m. on Saturday 29: The puppet Piero will be placed on a raft and pushed over the river Adda, at which point flaming arrows will hit him, creating a spectacular bonfire on the water that will romantically illuminate the river.
Do you intend to participate in one or more of these events?
