cCARNIVAL 2013

Carnival, or Carnivale, is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of circus, mask and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life.

In Italy

The most famous Carnivals of Italy are those held in Venice, Viareggio, Ivrea and Acireale.The Carnival in Venice was first recorded in 1268. The subversive nature of the festival is reflected in Italy's many laws over the past several centuries attempting to restrict celebrations and the wearing of masks a central feature of the Carnival. Carnival celebrations in Venice were halted for many years after the city fell under Austrian control in 1798, but were revived in the late 20th century.The month-long Carnival of Viareggio is one of the most renowned in Europe, and is characterized mainly by its parade of floats and masks caricaturizing popular figures. In 2001, the town built a new "Carnival citadel" dedicated to Carnival preparations and entertainment.

The Carnival of Ivrea is famous for its Battle of the Oranges fought with citruses between the people by foot and the troops of the tyrant on the carts, to remember the wars that really happened during the Middle Ages.In the most part of the Archdiocese of Milan the Carnival lasts four more days, ending on the Saturday after Ash Wednesday, because of the Ambrosian Rite.

This year, in Sesto Fiorentino, Carnival was dedicated to

Pinocchio, who was “born” here. The

carnival period had been rich of games

and labs for children, floats’ parades and a

final masquerade party. A lot of shops

partecipated at a “windows contest”

and there was also a contest for the best “pinocchio pizza”.

Commedia dell'Arte

Italian pronunciation:[komˈmɛːdja delˈlarte]

It is a form of theatre characterized by masked “types” which began in Italy in the 16th century and was responsible for the advent of the actress and improvised performances based on sketches or scenarios. The closest translation of the name is “comedy of craft. Here, arte does not refer to "art" as we currently consider the word, but rather to that which is made by artigiani (artisans). Commedia dell'arte, conversely, was performed by professional actors (comici) who perfected a specific role or mask.The performers played on outside, temporary stages, and relied on various props (robbe) in place of extensive scenery. The better troupes were patronized by nobility, and during carnival period might be funded by the various towns or cities, in which they played.

The characters of the commedia usually represent fixed social types, stock characters, such as foolish old men, devious servants, or military officers full of false bravado. Characters such as Pantalone the miserly Venetian merchant; Dottore Gratiano, the pedant from Bologna; or Arlecchino, the mischievous servant from Bergamo, began as satires on Italian "types" and became the archetypes of many of the favorite characters of 17th- and 18th-century European theatre.The commedia's genesis may be related to carnival in Venice, However, the connection to carnival (the period between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday) would suggest that masking was a convention of carnival and was applied at some point. The tradition in Northern Italy is centred in Mantua, Florence, and Venice, where the major companies came under the aegis of the various dukes. Concomitantly, a Neapolitan tradition emerged in the south and featured the prominent stage figure Pulcinella.

The florentine mask of

comedy of craft

Stenterello is the typical florentine character: great talker, fearful and impulsive; but also wise,

ingenious e ready to take sides with the most weak, although funk often hinders him.

Together with the ready answer, he always has got prickly wisecrack, in florentine vernacular, not

vulgar but mild and lively. In him is represented the florentine man of the people, of the lower class,

who, oppressed by adversities and inequities, find always in himself the force for laughin and joking.

Dialogues of Comedy of craft are really funny, so they’re good for

dramatization’s activities with the kids, especially in Nursery school.

They’re really helpful when children have problems in

relationship with adults and other children.

CARNIVAL AT “SCUOLA

DELL’INFANZIA JEAN PIAGET”

Step 1. Every child of the school realized a big mask for school’s

ornament with collage technique. They used several materials and distempers on paper bags filled

with newspaper’s balls

Then we hung them from the ceiling

Step 2. the main project with 5 years old children for current year consists in activities inspired by the reading of “the wonderful wizard of oz”. during the carnival period every child realized his own mask of

a character of the story.

Step 3. a group of children’s parents organized a school party on 8th february

which theme was “mostricini” (little monsters).

They prepared eight game points and entertained the children with music, books,

games and drawings.

Step 4. On 12th february (shrove

Tuesday) children wore their masks and had a little music party after

lunch to “prepare” themselves for parties that took place in the afternoon in the city centre and in several sporting or cultural

associations

Also teachers like to celebrate!

step 5. At last, after ash

Wednesday,

they painted the mask they had

wore this year at a carnival party.

webographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnivalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Commedia_dell'artehttp://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stenterello

Jean piaget nursery school

Sesto fiorentinoMarch 2013