CARNIVAL (from the Lat. taro, flesh, and sale, farewell—" farewell to flesh !"), a fes tival in Italy, which originally began on the feast of the Epiphany, and continued to Ash-Wsdnesda3r, when the fast of Lent made an end of the preceding feasting, masquer ading, and buffoonery. In later times, the C. was limited to the time of from three to eight days before Ash-Wednesday. Without doubt, the forms and customs still pre served in the celebration of the C. originated in the heathen festivals of spring-time; and they still remind us, partly of the Lupercalia and Bacchanalia of southern Europe, and partly of the Yule-feast northern peoples. Banquets of rich meats and drinking bouts were the chief attractions of the C. during the middle ages. Shrovetide (q.v.), or Shrove-Tuesday, called also Fasten-eveu or Pancake-Tuesday, was a relic of the English C., and formerly a season of extraordinary sport and feasting. The rich commenced the festive time at the feast of Epiphany, or on " Three Kings' Day;" but the middle classes. restricted their days of revelry to the week immediately preceding Lent; while the poor indulged in only a few days of mad mirth. According to a papal order, the clergy were allowed to commence their bacchanalia two days before the laity. The several chief
days of C. had distinct names, such as "fat" or "greasy Sunday," "blue Monday" (or "fool's consecration"), etc. The Tuesday before the beginning of Lent was especially styled C.—the Fastnacht of the German people. The customs of making presents of green nosegays or garlands, and planting fir-trees before houses during C., remind us of the thyrsus of the ancient Bacchanals, and equally of the decorations of the Yule-tide or Christmas season among northern people. The ancient custom, also, of scourging women accidentally met with during the Lupercalia (q.v.), was preserved in the media? val observance of the carnival. In most countries, especially where Protestantism pre vails, the observance of the C. is now limited to dancing and masked balls on certain days; but in Italy, as Goethe says in his charming sketch of the Roman C., it is still a general popular festive time. In former times, Venice was distinguished by the and splendor of the C.; but afterwards, Rome became most prominent, l'he years of angry politics, 1848 and 1849, had a discouraging effect on the attempts which had been made to restore the gayety of C. in the Roman Catholic towns of Germany.