Carnival of hope returns with less fanfare

ROME－Venice Carnival 2022 kicked off in the Italian lagoon city over the weekend under limited COVID-19 measures that will allow the audience to experience a hybrid of virtual and physical events.

This year is the first time the city can again hold its historic carnival－although partially－after the pandemic broke out in Italy. Local authorities saw it as an important signal of recovery.

"We badly wanted to hold this carnival to send a message of hope, and especially to children," Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said.

"It will be a widespread carnival, with many shows taking place in different areas of the city, in addition to events and competition (held) in streaming."

Italy's rate of new COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations has been gradually declining in recent weeks, and the government last week ended a requirement for people to wear face masks outdoors under most circumstances.

"This is the Carnival of hope," Venice resident Cristian Scalise told Reuters. "COVID is ending and we hope to return to our life as always."

The carnival will run until March 1 under the artistic direction of Massimo Checchetto, set designer of the La Fenice Theater. Street performances and events broadcast live on social media will involve the ancient heart of the city, the Venetian mainland and the islands scattered around the lagoon.

However, some of the most traditional events typical of the carnival had to be canceled for safety reasons. People will not be able to enjoy the "Venetian festival" in Rio di Cannaregio canal usually held on Saturday evening, or the water parade across the Grand Canal on Sunday morning.

Other canceled events include the flights of the Angel, the Eagle and the Lion－all of which usually draw large gatherings of people, and the allegorical parades in the Lido, Marghera and Pellestrina.

'Miss the event'

"I came here because I missed the Carnival so much and because we haven't been able to celebrate it for two years," Barbara del Prato, from the city of Parma, told Reuters. She had traveled to Venice with her entire family, all dressed in elaborate costumes.

Some 50,000 people had come to the lagoon city to take part in the celebrations, reported ANSA news agency citing local police.

The Venice Carnival began centuries ago as a period of excess before the rigors of Lent, the 40 days of fasting that traditionally precede Easter. A traditional Carnival costume often included a mask－not as a guard against disease as in current times, so festivalgoers could hide their identities and do as they pleased.

On Saturday, only a few people were seen wearing costumes with the mood more subdued than usual. But this is expected to change in the coming days as this year's edition gets going.

"I'm sorry not to see the (Venetian Carnival) masks that I would have expected, but it's a restart," Ketty Milano, a Venice resident, told Reuters.

In nearby France, the Nice Carnival kicked off on Friday under the theme King of Animals.

It will be a loud, rich and crowded chain of events over the next two weeks. The Carnival is led by the King of Animals, celebrating nature, light, human connection and life itself after months of lockdowns, silence, social distancing and banned public gatherings, The Associated Press reported.

"It's rejuvenation," Nicole Bravi, director of the French florist association La Nouvelle Vague that has been designing flower arrangements for the Carnival floats for 20 years, told the AP.

Public celebrations in the French city started in the early 19th century to honor visiting nobility.

Agencies - Xinhua