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The word carnival (Italian: carnevale) possibly comes from the Latin carnem levare or carnelevarium, which means to take away or remove meat!. A more probable etymology for the word carnevale may be derived from the Latin carne + vale, meaning farewell to meat. Developed around the Roman Catholic festival of Lent (Quaresima - derived from the Latin term Quadragesima, or the forty days), carnevale was associated with the pre-Lenten festivals practiced on and around Martedí Grasso (Shrove Tuesday) or Mardi Gras (trans. Fat Tuesday). Traditionally, the forty days in Lent would mark a season of sorrowful reflection, fasting and abstinence from fruit, eggs, meat and dairy products.The history of Venetian carnival is thought to have originated from an annual celebration of Doge Vitale Michieli IIs victory over Ulrich II of Treven, Patriarch of Aquileia in 1162. Ulrich II was taken prisoner together with 12 vassals who were allied to the feudal Friulians in a rebellion against the Republics (Italian: Serenissima Repubblica di Venezia) control over the territory of Grado. Ulric was eventually released on the condition that he pay an annual tribute to Venice in the form of 12 loaves of bread, 12 pigs and 1 bull. During this period a tradition began of slaughtering a bull (representing Ulric) and 12 pigs in the Piazza San Marco around Shrove Thursday (Veneziano: Zioba Grasso) to commemorate the victory. The first documented sources, mentioning the use of masks in the carnevale can be found as far back as the 13th centaury (2nd May 1268).

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