Venice Carnival

The Carnival of Venice is an ancient and enchanting festival held annually in Venice, Italy. Like its more boisterous counterpart in Rio, it is a "farewell to meat" celebration before the 40 days of Lent. The Venice Carnival is world-famous for its elaborate and beautiful masks, which are a central feature of the festivities. The tradition of wearing masks allowed Venetians to temporarily abandon their social class and identity, enabling them to mingle freely without the constraints of social conventions.