Carnival was born as the celebration of the world turned upside down

Carnival has ancient origins, and the Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans celebrated the change of seasons, particularly the end of winter and the beginning of spring's fertility. But from its inception, this festival had distinct subversive connotations, becoming a moment when the world turned upside down and gave way to human folly. This was and has always remained the allure of Carnival.

An example, of which there are abundant historical traces, are the Roman celebrations of Carnival, when:

• slaves could behave like free men
• the masters symbolically served the slaves
• rules and hierarchies were suspended
• excesses and jokes against authority were tolerated

It is precisely the behaviors of the world that are turned upside down and dominated by the madmen and the use of masks allowed them to hide their identity, so as not to have reprisals of any kind.

But if Carnival was the celebration of the world turned upside down, its purpose was precisely the opposite: thanks to the enormous and popular entertainment it engendered, it allowed social tensions to be released, defused, and the power of authority to be reaffirmed, both civilly and religiously. And indeed, after Carnival came Lent: from chaos to order, from excess to discipline.

The calendar also closely links Carnival to Lent, the time of madness and of seized power. From a timing perspective, it's a moveable feast celebrated before Lent, with its beginning depending on when Easter falls. Generally, Carnival culminates on Shrove Tuesday, which is the last day of celebration before the beginning of Lent. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is always 46 days before Easter.