January 27 - Saturday
Venetian carnival (Carnevale di Venezia) - a grandiose event in Italy and one of the most famous carnivals in the world. This costumed masquerade ball is the oldest of all the carnivals of the planet, held annually in Venice. It lasts more than two weeks. The Venetian carnival has a centuries-old history - the first documentary mention of it dates back to 1094, and its origins date back to the ancient era. The holiday in honor of the god of Saturn consulted after harvesting and was accompanied by mass festivities. And the slaves during the holiday were allowed to sit at the master's table on a par with the owners, but so that the class prejudices did not spoil the fun, everyone hid their faces under the masks. The greatest flowering of the Venetian carnivals reached in the 18th century, when dancing in squares and luxurious carnival costumes became true examples of high fashion, and the protagonists of the holiday became the heroes of the Italian comedy. From here they took the beginning of half-masks, which now bear the name of Venetian masks. I must say that the mask in the comedy pointed to the special qualities of the hero, each character had his own mask, characteristic only for him. This marked the beginning of the appearance on the streets of the city of Harlequins, Pierrot, Pantalone, and the charming Colombina became the emblem of the carnival. Currently, the Venice Carnival is celebrated annually and attracts a huge number of tourists from all over the world. Venice is beautiful at any time of the year, but especially it is beautiful during the Carnival. Each year, more than half a million fans of this magical holiday and just romantics come to Venice to enjoy the enchanting atmosphere of carnivals of past centuries, join cheerful street processions and take part in costumed performances. Traditionally, the carnival opens with the ancient ritual "Volo della Colombina". From the bell tower in St. Mark's Square a paper pigeon is launched to Columbine, which explodes in flight and showered the crowd gathered in the square with rain from confetti. The ritual associated with the medieval festival Festa delle Marie, which marks the liberation of Venetian girls abducted by pirates from Istria, is also fundamental. Unlike other places, the carnival in Venice completely covers the whole city - people dressed in the costumes of world-famous Italian characters: Harlequin, Piero, Pantalone and many others fill all the streets, in large squares there are concerts and performances, performances of magicians, jugglers, swindlers, mimes , acrobats, clowns and snake charmers, fireworks, noisy festivities and processions are arranged. In addition, in the numerous ancient palaces of Venice, traditional costume balls and exclusive private receptions are held. For kids, there is a children's carnival in San Polo Square. For 12 days Venice with its streets and squares, canals, gondoliers and bridges turns into a gigantic scene with decorations for one of the most grandiose and dazzling carnivals in the world. Unrestrained fantasy, non-stop music, sleepless nights, a parade of decorated boats and gondolas on the Grand Canal, as well as masks, masks, masks ... - all this is a magical medieval festival - the Venice Carnival. Everyone can take part in it. The carnival ends with a parade of costumes, amazing fireworks over the lagoon in front of St. Mark's Square, the burning of a straw effigy - a pagan ritual symbolizing the renewal of nature, and mass dances in San Marco Square. And the ringing of the bells of the church of San Francesco della Vigna informs about the beginning of Lent.
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1820 Discovering Antarctica.
Day of Military Glory of Russia - Day of complete liberation of Leningrad from the fascist blockade (1944).
1945 Soviet troops liberated the prisoners of Auschwitz. The troops of the First Ukrainian Front liberated the largest fascist mass extermination camp - Auschwitz (the German name - Auschwitz), located on the territory of Poland.
1967 Cosmos declared the property of all mankind.