During Carnival any prank counts? We've collected some funny pranks to play on yours friends, as well as drawings to

colour in, masks to print and cut out, and the history of the traditional characters of the Italian Carnival.

Are you ready to party with us?

an illustrated History of traditional Italian Carnival

masks

masks to colour in

a Carnival recipe

tutorial: make your Carnival masks

with a shoe box

ideas: projects with confetti

drawings to colour in

illustrated Carnival jokes

In Italy there are many traditional Carnival masks. Traditional

Italian carnival masks represent our faults: they are lazy,

tight-fisted and full of vices. They are caricatures that

highlight faults that we must learn to correct.

Which of these characters do you think you

resemble most?

Harlequin

Harlequin is a mask from Lombardy and

one of the most famous Carnival masks.

He wears a multi-coloured outfit made

from scraps of material that his

friends have given him, because

Harlequin is so poor that he can't afford to

buy a "proper" outfit.

Harlequin is smart, lively, cheerful and

a bit of a troublemaker.

He has one big fault: he is very lazy!

To get something for himself, he is

always ready to do anything for

anyone: Harlequin, a servant

of two masters!

Brighella

Brighella is a traditional character from the city of Bergamo and is

the historical ‘enemy’ of Harlequin. He is a con artist born and bred,

a troublemaker and a bit too talkative: at school he would have

gone home with lots of notes from the teacher!

Pantalone and Ballanzone

Pantalone is a mask from Venice, but is very similar to

the mask from Bologna, Dr. Ballanzone. Pantalone is

rather old, tight-fisted and very grouchy.

He just loves money: he is nervous and troublesome,

and tries to spend as little as he can and saves like

crazy.

Dr. Balanzone from Bologna, is boring and

grumpy: he is a know-it-all, but hardly ever

gets anything done. He talks a great deal of

nonsense, even if he thinks that he is very

clever, and tries to trick people all the time.

Gianduja

Gianduja is a mask from Asti

in Piedmont.

He is suspicious and stubborn, but a

gentleman.

He is also a bit of a glutton

who loves good food and wine.

And he’s so absent-minded!

Meo Patacca and Rugantino

Meo Patacca and Rugantino are masks from Rome.

Meo Patacca is brave and arrogant: he is the typical class bully!

He's always in the middle of a fight, he never misses his mark

with a sling, and is always ready to come to blows!

Rugantino is named for his arrogance: he teases everyone,

but then runs away. He is a troublemaker, but unlike

Meo Patacca he runs away if someone wants to fight him!

He really has an awful temper.

Colombina

Colombina is a female mask from Venice,

and was born in Venice.

She is a cheerful waitress who is also

a little crafty.

She lies all the time and is

rather naughty, even though she always

tries to be cheerful.

Meneghino

Meneghino or Domenichino is a mask

from Lombardy, Milan.

He is a generous soul, who tries to

defend others.

He is always cheerful

even when things are looking down.

Pierrot

The Pierrot mask was invented in Italy in 1500. Pierrot is a sad,

melancholy, and always in love. He is lazy, and spends his

evenings gazing at the moon.

Other Italian masks:

Beppe Nappa: a mask from Messina, a greedy, lazy character.

He sings, dances, and is always carefree and ready to make trouble.

Burlamacco: is a character of the Viareggio Carnival.

He is a prankster and a clown, always ready to play a prank

on someone.

Pulcinella is a mask from Naples. He is lazy, slow,

a layabout, clumsy and a ladies' man.

Capitan Spaventa: also known as Captain Fracasse,

is a mask from Liguria. He carries a long sword and

is a skilled swordsman: he strikes with his sword

as well as with his quick tongue!

Gioppino: is a mask from Bergamo and Brescia

and is a farmer who doesn't really want

to do much work, and has learned the art of

getting by simply by doing small jobs.

Stenterello Stenterello is a mask from Tuscany.

He never has a cent because he is always

generous with those who have less than him.

He is wise and optimistic, and tries to live

life philosophically even when things

go wrong.

Drawings to colour in: Print and colour in

Print and colour in. Now cut out the mask, and make two small holes on

the sides. Tie an elastic thread to both holes to fit on your mask.

Print and colour in. Now cut out the mask, and make two small holes on

the sides. Tie an elastic thread to both holes to fit on your mask.

Print and colour in. Now cut out the mask, and make two small holes on

the sides. Tie an elastic thread to both holes to fit on your mask.

Baked apple fritters

Ingredients: sweet apples, white sugar, cinnamon

powder, sweet liqueur.

Peel the apples and remove the core with a corer.

Cut the apples into thick slices (at least a couple

of centimetres) and roll in a bowel with a good

amount of sugar.

Shake off the excess sugar and place the apples on

a baking tray covered with greaseproof paper.

Finally sprinkle with cinnamon and a couple

of tablespoons of sweet liqueur, which will

evaporate as the apples slices bake.

Bake until the apples are cooked and the

sugar has caramelized, and serve hot:

the apples should be soft but with a

delicious golden crust of sugar.

Delicious!

Difficulty: Easy

Time required 30 minutes + drying time for colours.

Materials required:

1 Naturino shoebox with lid;

grey and white acrylic colours;

cutter and a pair of scissors;

hot glue;

black felt pen;

elastic.

Before you begin:

your children can

colour in the box

and the teeth

of the shark.

Important:

the mouth

and fins must be

cut out by an adult.

Photo 1. Paint the box and lid with the grey acrylic. This

should be done outdoors. Allow to dry for 24 hours.

Photo 2. Cut out the first dorsal

fin from the box (the one that is so scary when it surfaces out of the

water) and then the pectoral fins that you will glue to the sides.

Photo 3. Put the box on your child to measure the position of the

neck.

Photo 4. With a pair of scissors cut a semicircle (neckline), that

will give the mask a perfect fit.

Photo 5. Draw in a circle and cut it out with a cutter, zigzagging the

edge to make the mouth and teeth.

Photo 6. Paint the sharp teeth white.

Photo 7.

Allow to dry for

a couple of hours, then

draw in the eyes with

a black felt pen.

Photo 8.

Make a hole on the sides of the box, and

thread in the elastic.

Finish your shark by gluing on the fins;

fix the two side fins with hot glue

(to the sides of the box)

and the dorsal fin

(on the top).

Poster

Poster: Use big confetti to make this

poster, or to make party invitations:

a simple idea, which you can make

by gluing coloured circles

on a piece of cardboard.

Make confetti stamps

Make confetti stamps: DIY stamps

to make patterns for your confetti

with acrylic colours.

Dip the rubber end of

a pencil into different

tempera colours,

and stamp onto a sheet

to make different

coloured confetti.

Drawings to colour in: Print and colour in

Umbrella

If it is raining, put some chocolates in your

parents’ umbrellas: when they open up their

umbrellas they will be showered by chocolates.

Fake worms and spiders

Put a fake toy in the salad bowl without letting

anyone see you.

Glued coin

Glue a one Euro coin on the sidewalk in front

of your house.

Watch people as they try

to pick it up!

Alarm Clock!

Move the hands of your parent's

alarm clock to 04:00 a.m.:

they will think it's time to get up.

Toothbrush

Before going to bed, put a few

drops of lemon juice and a pinch

of salt on your brother’s or sister's

toothbrush: in the morning...