| The history of the Venetian Mask is one which | | | | important to them, allowing them to remain |
| sounds as though it stems from fairytale or legend | | | | anonymous in the process. This was mutually |
| but which goes to show that sometimes truth is | | | | beneficial to both the citizens and officials visiting the |
| stranger than fiction.Way back in the 13th Century, | | | | city, who were able to receive honest answers to |
| Venice was more than just a small city in Italy. It | | | | their questions from the whole spectrum of |
| was a very important part of Italy and was known | | | | residents. Soon, all of the city's residents were |
| by the name of the Venetian Republic. This Republic | | | | wearing masks to go about their daily lives.This |
| was small, with a population in the region of 150,000 | | | | mutual benefit for all of wearing masks was not to |
| people. Nonetheless, the Republic had a very | | | | last long though. It did not take long for people to |
| successful trade, which was ship building, and was | | | | start to take advantage of the concealment of their |
| able to produce one battleship in as little as thirty | | | | identity and to benefit from their anonymity. Knowing |
| days. This was a very fast turnaround, made possible | | | | that there were to be no repercussions of their |
| by the fact that the shipyards employed 15,000 of | | | | actions, as no-one could be identified, the society |
| the local residents, a staggering ten per cent of the | | | | began to behave more lavishly and without fear. As a |
| state's overall population. In addition to the shipyards, | | | | busy city with travellers and business visitors |
| the Venetian Republic required workforces in all other | | | | descending upon them daily, sexual promiscuity |
| aspects of daily life. The Republic was a well oiled | | | | became common place and gambling was known to |
| machine which functioned smoothly and well and this | | | | be occurring all through the day and the night, all over |
| meant that the citizens of the Venetian Republic | | | | the city. In fact, gambling was even occurring in |
| were wealthy and successful. This wealth, luxury and | | | | convents and was undertaken by men, women and |
| extravagance, coupled with the beauty of the state, | | | | even children. Homosexuality was starting to spread |
| made the Republic very appealing to the rest of the | | | | throughout the Republic and was not condemned |
| world.It was this wealth that was to bring about the | | | | there as it was in the rest of the country. Women |
| tradition of the Venetian mask. Over time, the | | | | were able to flaunt their sexuality in revealing clothing |
| citizens of the Venetian Republic began to realise that | | | | and engaged in promiscuous behaviour. Even those |
| if they concealed their identity they became able to | | | | who had taken religious vows, such as monks and |
| carry out their daily lives in secrecy and without fear | | | | nuns, were undertaking the same activities as the |
| of retribution. With so much personal wealth in the | | | | rest of the population, wearing fashionable outfits, |
| state, people often found themselves making deals | | | | gambling and prostituting themselves.The capital of |
| and agreements with other citizens outside of the | | | | Italy, Rome, knew about the activities which were |
| eyes of the law. With the population as small as it | | | | occurring in the Venetian Republic but for some time |
| was, many wanted to carry out such deals as these | | | | chose to ignore them as long as the Republic was |
| without other people knowing their business, and so | | | | continuing to make regular and substantial financial |
| the wearing of a mask became popular.Once people | | | | deposits. However, a decision was finally reached to |
| began to see others wearing masks, it became | | | | ban the wearing of masks throughout the majority |
| apparent that they could hold additional benefits. | | | | of the year, only permitting it in a three month period |
| When wearing a mask your identity is concealed and | | | | from the 26th December onwards. Over time this |
| so your social status is not known to others. This | | | | has been gradually lessened and is now more |
| allowed servants and business owners to be treated | | | | commonly associated with week long festivities |
| equally and prevented any form of inequality or | | | | known as Carnevale, or Mardi Gras.The author |
| prejudice. It also allowed all of the citizens of the | | | | created Venetian Masks at his spare time. |
| Republic to have their say on matters which were | | | | |