The+Grand+Feast+of+Gods


 * A Carnevale, Ogni Scherzo Vale! **

**Read the article below and take notes in the worksheet provided** //here.//
The first historical records of the Carnival of Venice date back to 1268 AD. That’s 750 years ago. The Venetian Carnival always finishes on Tuesday before Ash Wednesday[1]. It always starts two Fridays before Ash Wednesday. This means that it lasts twelve days. 
 * The History of the Venetian Carnival **

The English word Carnival comes from the Italian word Carnevale.It is a compound noun derived from the Latin words: carnem (meat) and levare (stop eating). That's because when carnival finishes the period of Lent[2] begins, when Christians stop eating meat and dairy products as part of their preparation for Easter. For many centuries, the Venetian people as well as tourists who visited Venice made the most of the carnival period. They organised huge feasts, rich in food and wine where disguised guests, wearing costumes and masks, partied till dawn[2]. The slogan ‘A carnevale ogni scherzo vale’, which means ‘during carnival all sorts of jokes are in use’, became the rule of conduct during carnival. Benito Mussolini banned Carnival celebrations, in 1930, so carnival was not celebrated officially in Venice for nearly fifty years. In 1979, the Italian government decided to bring back the cultural traditions in Venice, so Venetians started celebrating carnival again. Today, three million Italians and international tourists visit Venice and celebrate carnival all around the city: from the most isolated squares to the magnificent Piazza San Marco and the most luxurious palaces on the Grand Canal, the famous ‘Canal Grande’.

The //Feast of the Gods// is a wonderful party which will take place at the Flangini Palace on the Grand Canal on Thursday, the 12th of February, 2015. The theme of the party is based on classical Greek and Roman mythology. All guests have to disguise themselves as gods and goddesses of the Greek and Latin Pantheons. The event was inspired by one of Bellini’s paintings entitled: //The Feast of the Gods//. Compare the picture below with the material given about the party and make a list of similarities between the gods/goddesses in the picture and the costumes and decorations used at the party. Also, refer to the types of food and drinks the gods/goddesses are using and the food and drinks served during the party, or used to decorate the palace.
 * The Feast of the Gods **

[1] Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent [2] Lent is the period of 50 days before Easter. [3] The first light of a new day, the break of day.

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