A ITALY : http://www.carnevalevenezia.com/storia_carnevale_venezia.htm
The Costumes for the Carnival of Venice
As soon as the Xand century, the people enjoyed a maximum of the last days before the mortifications of lent in having fun and enjoying the pleasures and joys of life.
En 1094 the Carnival was first mentioned in a Charter of the doge, Faliero, and in 1269 the Senate mandated that it had considered the eve of lent as a day of celebration (Mardi Gras).
You could then wear the mask, through which we will later find a shadow of equality lost over time, When the clothes as ’ loan nobles still fraternized with the people.
In compensation to inaction policy, the people attached to this glorious splendour that characterized the commemorative festivities of Venice, and forgot in the conflicts between the great families, in hunts at the bull and of course in the festivities of the Carnival, used to show all the seductions of wealth, all whims of fashion.
The Costumes for the Carnival of Venice
In the especially Carnival celebrations broke out the enthusiasm and joy of life, the harmony of the colours, the pump and the emulation of luxury.
To avoid the popular resentment, a law prohibited the Venetian rich to wear jewellery in public, except during official holidays and during the last days of the Carnival !
The Carnival finally allowed them to meet all their content.
Amidst the myriad animated, Mobile, joyful, among the glow of torches and the sound of trumpets, circulated the thousand sparkling fancy dress with gold and precious stones masks, and matrons in the precious dresses whose huge tail was supported by height.
In the middle of this fermentation the people was rather good and peaceful.
One seldom saw in the huge crowd of threatening gestures and brawls.
No need to order, security forces or : This large movement going on, and flowed peaceful and happy through the calli, as a true family celebration.
The Reputation of the Carnival of Venice
The Costumes for the Carnival of Venice
The reasons for success and the success of the Carnival of Venice since renaissance (and maybe even before) were both political and economic.
The people, who loved holidays and public entertainments, found in the fun carnival and fun, but it was above all a freedom of expression that didn't exist anywhere else.
You could criticize and poking fun of who we wanted as we wanted : during the Carnival, the aristocratic Republic became democracy in the form of laughter and joy.
The rules of precedence deferred, only the feast of Carnival brought everyone together under its banner.
The fun of the Carnival was a factor of social peace.
The influx of foreigners, (between 20 and 30 000, According to some) among which one could count monarchs, who came there to enjoy the amusements and pleasures that could offer them the incognito of the mask, represented an economic windfall for Venice coupled with a unique reputation of freedom and magnificence.
http://www.e-venise.com/histoire_carnaval_venise.htm
