Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1889-02-02
CARNlI AIS.
ORIGIN AND POPULARITY OF
RLVELs THE WORLDS OVER
First Made Famous by the Italians
Now Established Events In
Many Lands" Mardt Gras
and Ice CarnivAlA-

OF blue SKIES and brilliant vcrdue beng
especially suitable for out door sports,
in which the light, idle nature of the
Italian finds great pleasure.
In Italy carnival time commences each
year on the day following feast of
piphanv. on the ..h Of January, aud
.asts until midnight of Shrovc Tuesday.
These Roman carnivals in the olden
time were rot only occasions for rejoc
ipgs and fes,iva but also great sources
Of revenue TO the city. as thousands Of
foreigners annually focked thither TO
witness the festivities. thus MATERIAL Y
increasing trade in al directions. Even
the Government did not disdain such
advantages. and lent aid in assisting the
permanent and regul ar return Of carnival
season aloting to certain DAYS certain
privileges the reone being one day re-
stricted TO the wearing OF crotesaue
masks and costumes. another to the
throwing of candies aud comfits, while
still another was devoted to races or fine
feats Of Workmanship
On shrove Tuesday, the last day Of
the carnival the streets present a curious
appearance. each person carving in his
hand small LIGHTED taper. and each one
irving. bv waving Of hands and tapping
|. Of handkerchiefs to- extinguish the
light of his neichbor In this sport all
classes Of society DIN the grave and
the reverend seignior and 'the daughter
of an hundred earls' battling in mimic
warfare with the simple peasant or the
basket maker. At midnight amidst
great pomp and the shouts and tumu't
| Of a vast concourse Of people. the carnival
| is ended by the burning of a colossal
figure supposed to be the carnival itself.
and as the Tenten season is now come,
quiet soon reigns over the CITY.
In years gone by fierce rivalry existed
between Venice and Rome in reference
to these fetes. and the former city put
forth every inducemcnt possible TO
attract visitors. one great feature of the
Venetian enterta nmcnt being the beauti
ful and impressive ceremonies which
every wear attended the wedding of the
Doce to the blue Adristic. a solcmnitv
tynical Of close union and the control
of the land over the sea; from this for
malitv did Venice become known As the
"Brde of Sea- Turin, Milan. Florence
and Naples also held carnivals and We'd
with each other in presenting attractive
programmes, all with the same object
II. g the greed Of gain. However the
glory has departed from MANY OF these
places and .'carnivals' have in nearly all
instances degenerated into mere money
making speculasions.
Among modern earn ivals. probably
none is more famous than the New Or
leans "Vardi Gras." which, like the
Roman festival also takes place on the
dav prece ling cnt. which is shrovt
Tuesday This day has long been lega
holiday there, and the cty wears ths
most splendid appearance Of fe.sivi'y.
large sums of money being spen. a4 4nuall,
in pre-, ara.ions for this great event
"Na'd Gas was inaucurated bv tn
French in 1e2-. and ita celebration wa
originally confined to them, but now A.
oin in the ceremonies.
There are two principal raceants
Tie first or these is the triumphan