Meet the Masks of the Italian Tradition 2012/02/09

One of the traditions of the Carnival period is to mask oneself to kid around and have fun.

Today our children want to dress up like fairies, pirates, princesses and comic book heroes, but the masks from the Italian tradition are very different!

Each Italian region has their own; in total more than a hundred are counted and are born in the puppet theater and the Commedia dell’Arte (XIX century), which represent stereotypical characters.

From Lombardy Italy, more precisely in Bergamo, we find the friends Arlecchino and Brighella.

Arlecchino wears a suit full of color made with irregular fabrics and a black mask. It is the typical lazy and mocking servant.

Brighella is also a servant but a ‘wrestler’ always ready to fight everyone. He wears a white and green suit.

Colombina is one of the few female masks that exist, she is a Venetian astute and mischievous maid engaged to Arlecchino.

Pantalone is the typical Venetian merchant, cheap, rich and luxurious. He wears fine red velvet and never leaves his bag.

Gianduia comes from Turin and also gives name to the delicious chocolate typical of Piedmont. Gianduia is a brave gentleman and cheerful lover of good food, especially wine.

Doctor Balanzone wears the suit of law professors from the city of Bolonia. He is an intellectual pompous and knows it all and also carries a book under his arm.

Stenterello belongs to the Tuscan region, optimist and always willing to help. He dresses in a very particular way: squares, dots and stripes in different colors.

Pulcinella, from Naples, is a servant who likes to lounge around and wears all white.

The Italian masks are very old, you must choose your favorite!

We like Harlequin, so much so that we dedicated one of our themed Carnival parties to him: download it now and celebrate with us!