Le maschere!

Il Carnevale 08

Tuesday was the last night of Il Carnevale and Ascoli Piceno again put on a colorful show that filled Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Arringo. Last year was subdued a little by wet weather but this year we had clear days for the whole week and the papers reported ninety groups registered for the judging, a new record. There are individual and group prizes in different categories for the best maschere (costumes) and there is even a category for nonni e nipoti, grandparents and grandkids.

One of the things we noticed last year and was confirmed this year was the large percentage of the men in costume dressed in drag. Putting on a wig, some make-up and a dress seems to be a common maschera for men of all ages. We have asked several friends why the men do this and all we get is a smile, a shrug of the shoulders and a “that is just what they do” type of answer.

The festivities began last Thursday with the school kids parading through the centro storico in their maschere. Friday we were invited to Offida for their special Il Carnevale event, il bove finto, and Saturday night we went to a huge dinner with some friends and their family, another long night of eating. Sunday the piazze were packed shoulder to shoulder as the groups wandered around for all to see and this was repeated again Tuesday night.

The mornings were reserved mostly for families with their small children to fill the piazze with their bright maschere and cheerful cries while throwing confetti. I think seeing the kids dressed up is the best part of this event. The older teenagers seem to spend their time running around trying to spray each other with the cans of foam that the vendors sell; I consider them a nuisance to avoid. In the evening the adults come out in their maschare to see and be seen by those out to enjoy the show…like us.