Celebrating Carnevale in Italy 2012 | Carnevale in Turin

Parco della Pellerina is the epicentre for all Carnival celebrations in Turin. Every year, the Torinese construct a Luna Park filled with rides, games, food stands piled with traditional Piedmont sweets such as bugie and chiacchiere, wine stalls, and more. While years ago, the rides and games were set up in Piazza Vittorio in the centre of the city, they now mostly limited to this park.

Perhaps the most anticipated part of Carnival in Turin is the Carnival Street Parade, also held at the park. The parade is a jovial conglomerate of musical bands in masks and children dressed up in costume, led by Turin's Carnival characters, Gianduja and Giacometta.

Another more recent addition to Turin's Carnival festivities is the annual Bike Carnival. This element of Carnival has only been around for seven years, but it has become an essential part of the tradition. During the Bike Carnival, elementary school children of all ages and their families don masks, and ride their bicycles around a designated course in the city.

This year, the festivities will begin on January 28th, with a preview of the parade in the historic city centre. This will immediately be followed by the opening of Carlevè ed Turin at Parco della Pellerina on the 29th. The 5th of February is the day of the Bike Carnival, while the Carnival Street Parade will conclude the celebrations on the 12th of February.

Photo courtesy of mfortini on Flickr

The tradition of Italian carnival masks is central to Venice, though most other cities in Italy, including Turin, have heartily embraced the custom as well.

Masks were once used as a way of disguising ones identity and social class. Interestingly, before the end of the Republic, the Venitian people would wear masks on a daily basis as a means of facilitating conversation with people of higher and lower classes, and on occasion, to engage in romantic encounters or illegal activities. Then, in the 18th century, the mask-wearing season was limited to the three months between the day of St. Stefano (December 26th) and the first day of Lent. Today, the Venitians don their spectacular masks during Carnival, participating in mask-judging contests, parades, and celebrations in Piazza San Marco.

To find out more about the specific types of Venice Carnival masks in existence, visit Wikipedia's detailed article here!

Gianduja was first brought to life as a marionette in the early 19th century by the skilled hands of puppeteers Sales and Bellone in Asti, a town one hour from Turin. He later became one of the masks in the Italian Commedia D'Arte, and the 'King of Carnival' in the Piedmont region.

Gianduja's original name was Girolamo della Grigna, but this was later transformed into Giuàn d'la Duja, with the use of the word "duja" (meaning container, in the Piedmont dialect) referring to the fact that Gianduja always carried a wine container on his person. His name can be roughly translated into English as "John with a jug"!

The King of Turin's Carnevale is the perfect reflection of the Piedmont character. While possessing a happy-go-lucky and cheerful personality, he is also reserved, refined, intellectual and serious with regards to his duties and work. His devotion to his partner Giacometta shows he is faithful in love, but has an indisputable appreciation for the good things in life - that is, wine, women and food. His superior intellect and wit make him popular with all around him, particularly with the ladies, much to poor Giacometta's chagrin.

His appearance is that of a traditional middle-class Piedmontese man. He dons a three-horned hat, from which springs a rather comical ponytail. His outfit consists of a brown jacket, a yellow waistcoat, and red tights covered by green trousers.

Giacometta is depicted as Gianduja's partner and true love. She has accompanied him since their simultaneous birth as marionettes 300 years ago. Faithful, courageous, and strong of character, she complements Gianduja perfectly. She is depicted as being attractive, with a long dress, a shirt, a shawl, and a bonnet, typical of a middle-class Piedmontese woman.

The picture to the right shows the Gianduja and Giacometta of the 2011 Pinerolo Carnevale parade. According to the locals, the actor who portrays Gianduja tends to remain the same until he retires, while Giacometta changes almost every year.