Carnevale di Venezia and Amore'

Helau!
This is a greeting expressed to parade participants, onlookers and celebrators during Fasching or Karneval. What is Fasching? Fasching, Karneval, Carnival or Carnevale is a celebration held during the pre-Lenten season beginning in January (in some areas beginning in November) with a mock government where a prince and princes are elected to “rule” and plan the Fasching events.

The main Fasching events are held the week before Ash Wednesday with LOTS of community events, parties and parades. Simple, fun and extravagant costumes and masks are worn during this time.

The Thursday before Ash Wednesday is Damen Fasching (also known as Weiberfastnacht) where women symbolically storm and take over city hall.  Throughout the day women will cut off men’s ties and kiss males who are lucky (or unfortunate) enough to pass by.

The culminating event is the parade held the Sunday or Monday before Ash Wednesday when Fasching parades are held from the small villages to the large cities. Monday or Rosenmontag is the day when the biggest and most popular parades are held. And speaking from experience, a good time is held by all! 

Even American teachers joined in the fun!

And to follow Ms. Beezy’s lead, we’re giving away not one mask but two so that one or two of you will be ready for Marti Gras, Carnival, whatever the case may be.  All you have to do is leave a comment/email that you follow us on bloglovin' and if you’re really feeling ambitious and want to win two then also let us know you follow us over at TpT as well! (Your name will be entered twice) We’ll announce winners in two weeks so please include your mailing address when you email me so we’ll be able to send you these masks that come from Italy! To wet your appetite check out the masks on the sidebar slidagram to get your juices going!  Also enjoy the slideshow below of pictures taken by our talented art teacher during her Carnevale visits to Venice!

Slideshow design created with Smilebox

Kindness book of the week: Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli

 

 

When a valentine package is delivered to his house with the message "somebody loves you" things begin to change for Mr. Hatch.  He begins to look at everyone differently. He becomes a loving and helpful friend to many, and he is loved in return. He then finds out that the valentine package was delivered to him by mistake and returns to his old ways assuming that nobody loves him. But by this time he has made many new friends who care very much and inspire him with the message that somebody does love him after all!  Excellent book! See our pics below!

 

 

Follow us on bloglovin' if you'd like the Mr. Hatch freebie and send us an email!

 

Other pictures of this week’s activities:

 

 

 

 

Have a great week and enjoy the last two weeks of a fun month!