Find the perfect mask to complete your Masked Ball outfit or Carnival costume. Browse our extensive collections of striking and dramatic Venetian eye masks, full face masks and Venetian masks on a stick and buy masks to wear and display.
The History of Venetian Carnival & Venetian Masks
Originally associated with the Catholic religious festival of Lent, the Italian tradition of Carnival is documented to have started as early as the 12th century. Carnevale, as the pre-Lenten festival is known throughout Italy, is believed to have derived its name from the Latin words carne levare - meaning to take away meat. Carnevale (carne + vale) literally translated means 'farewell to meat' - connecting it to the Lenten tradition of fasting
Carnevale was a public festival originally celebrated with the pre-Lent sacrificial slaughter of animals in the streets, gradually becoming a more elaborate affair with the wearing of costumes and masks and a certain amount of pageantry.
Mask wearing became an everyday occurrence allowing the people in the crowded city of Venice to go about their business in public without class-related scrutiny. This anonymity unfortunately led to a rise in crime and undesirable behaviour, which in turn led to legislation in the 14th century, prohibiting the wearing of a mask in public outside of designated carnival dates.
If you are planning on taking a trip to Venice to experience Carnevale first hand, you need to book your trip for these dates: Carnival 2010 - February 5th-16th. Book early to ensure you can get a flight and accomodation - this is Venice's busiest time of year!
Carnevale was a public festival originally celebrated with the pre-Lent sacrificial slaughter of animals in the streets, gradually becoming a more elaborate affair with the wearing of costumes and masks and a certain amount of pageantry.
Mask wearing became an everyday occurrence allowing the people in the crowded city of Venice to go about their business in public without class-related scrutiny. This anonymity unfortunately led to a rise in crime and undesirable behaviour, which in turn led to legislation in the 14th century, prohibiting the wearing of a mask in public outside of designated carnival dates.
If you are planning on taking a trip to Venice to experience Carnevale first hand, you need to book your trip for these dates: Carnival 2010 - February 5th-16th. Book early to ensure you can get a flight and accomodation - this is Venice's busiest time of year!
- In 1436 the Mascereri got their own mask maskers guild.
- Mask wearing become prolific in 13th century Venice providing privacy and anonymity.
- The resulting crime wave ended in the banning of masks outside of Carnival.
Once decrees pertaining to mask-wearing were passed, the wearing of masks was only permitted between the Festival of Santo Stefano (St. Stephen's Day on December 26th) at the start of the carnival season and midnight of Shrove Tuesday (usually in February), the culmination of the carnival.
This extended period of disguise created great demand for masks and in 1436 the Mask Makers (Mascherari) of Venice were officially recognised with their own Master Craftsmen's guild, with their own laws and recognised position in Venetian society.
This extended period of disguise created great demand for masks and in 1436 the Mask Makers (Mascherari) of Venice were officially recognised with their own Master Craftsmen's guild, with their own laws and recognised position in Venetian society.
You'll enjoy buying from our handpicked Venetian-inspired mask collections. Selected to embrace traditional Venetian styles, both in shape and decoration, our masks boast fine hand-finished detailing, exquisite fabrics & braid trims and an authentically elegant silhouette.
Buy your venetian mask today at Maskheaven.co.uk and we'll ship direct to your door from our dedicated 7000sqft warehouse. And remember if your order is over £40, we'll give you FREE delivery!
The Carnival of Venice is the most famous and internationally renowned of all the Italian carnivals, drawing hundreds of thousands of tourists and visitors to the city, all to witness and partake in the eye-catching masked spectacle.
Wander the atmospheric streets as a tourist during Carnival and it's extremely easy to imagine you're back in the 13th century, mingling with masked performance artists in elaborate period costume, promenading amongst architecture unchanged in centuries.
Wander the atmospheric streets as a tourist during Carnival and it's extremely easy to imagine you're back in the 13th century, mingling with masked performance artists in elaborate period costume, promenading amongst architecture unchanged in centuries.
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