ITALIAN HOLIDAYS VALENTINE’S DAY AND CARNIVAL
Valentine's Day in Italy is celebrated similarly to other places, with couples exchanging gifts and romantic gestures. Carnival, on the other hand, is a colorful and festive celebration with parades, elaborate costumes and parties in many Italian cities.
Both celebrations offer an opportunity to immerse yourself in Italian culture and joy.
Valentine's Day, is a day dedicated to Love which is celebrated on February 14th each year.
It began as a Christian holiday in honor of a Christian martyr named Valentine of Terni and, through traditions handed down for centuries, has also become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romantic love in many countries around the world.
It is a day when couples exchange cards with the symbols of hearts, doves and Cupid figure, flowers, chocolates or other forms of gifts to express their love or affection for each other.
In Italy, Valentine's Day lovers often exchange keys as a romantic symbol and invitation to unlock the donor’s heart. If you have a special person you love and to whom you are thinking of giving a very special gift from Italy, and more specifically from the beautiful area of Lake Como, perhaps you would like to take a look at my article 10 Special Gift Ideas Lake Como Italy.
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The beginning of this tradition it’s really in the ancient times. The days around mid-February, in Ancient Rome it was customary to celebrate the Lupercalia, festivals with archaic roots linked to the cycle of Death and Rebirth of Nature, the subversion of the rules and the destruction of order to allow the world and society to purify and be reborn. These celebrations were accompanied by various rituals, masquerades, processions and banquets. During these rituals, was celebrated human sexuality in its most primordial and ancestral form, personified by the God Lupercus, protector of fertility, which rituals were obviously not looked upon favorably by the Christian church at that time.
One of the reasons, why, today part of these ritualistic manifestations has survived to this day, mediated by Christian morality, in the traditions of the Carnival.
The Carnival in Italy it’a christian and catholic celebration, famous all around the world for the possibility of dressing up for a day by transforming yourself into a character from tradition, history, fantasy, taken from literature, or a film, characterized by parades in which floats with playful and imaginative elements passing through the streets.
Usually the sixth week preceding Easter is the one in which Fat Thursday falls and Carnival is celebrated, more or less in the days around Valentine's Day.
A Christian tradition, where it was customary to organize a last Banquet before the start of the period of Lent - forty-day period of penance in preparation for Easter and observation of the precept of abstinence and fasting.
Some of the most notable Carnivals in Italy include:
Venice Carnival: Famous for its elaborate masks and costumes, the Venice Carnival is a glamorous and historic celebration attracting visitors from around the world.
Viareggio Carnival: Held in the coastal town of Viareggio, this carnival is renowned for its massive and artistic papier-mâché floats, parades, and lively atmosphere.
Ivrea Carnival: Unique for its "Battle of Oranges," participants in this carnival in Ivrea reenact a historic revolt by throwing oranges at each other.
Putignano Carnival: One of the longest-running carnivals in Italy, held in the town of Putignano in Puglia, it features parades, concerts, and various cultural events.
Acireale Carnival: Located in Sicily, this carnival is known for its beautiful flower floats, lively processions, and traditional performances.
Carnival of Schignano: e little mountain village on Lake Como known for it’s typical crafted wooden masks and an authentic tradition.
During holidays and celebrations, you’ll find a variety of traditional Italian sweets, and you’ll find them also on both Valentine's Day and Carnival.
Like the most beloved of Lovers for Valentine’s Day - Chocolate in all his recipes, and forms as well as all different types of Italian tart called Crostata, with hearts of course ❤️
And of course, Chiacchiere with or without chocolate - the crunchy dessert, present during the Carnival period in all Italian pastry shops.
These treats also often have cultural and regional significance, adding a delightful touch to this special occasions.
As a conclusion to this article, i would like to share my thoughts that it's just the same thing - Valentine’s day and Carnival - a Holiday, as a way of sharing love in all its forms, including fun, a good meal accompanied by a delicious desert, being together with your loved ones and friends, giving thanks to nature for all the precious gifts and prepare for the awakening and the new life cycle that will begin soon with the arrival of the Spring.
An opportunity to immerse yourself in Italian culture and joy. 🤍
If you want to emerge yourself in an authentic celebration of the Carnival here on Lake Como, you can watch my YouTube video Italian Carnival in a small mountain village or learn more and read my article Italian Carnival in Schignano Lake Como.
I wish you a happy Valentine’s Day ❤️ and have fun if you celebrate the Carnival! 🥳
Bye for now from Italy and me Teo!
