Venice, once an exotic East-meets-West Xanadu had by the turn of the 18th century long been a tourist honeypot with Europe’s best courtesans, elegant gambling salons and extravagant festivals like Carnevale. Most famous of all revelers was Casanova whose infamous seductions were, indeed, an expression of Venetian decadence. But then, abruptly, Carnevale was kaput. Napoleon, notorious killjoy that he was, decreed an end to all masquerade balls and public festivities when he took Venice as his own in 1797. It was not until 1979 that the pipers piped and revelers once again reveled thanks to many young art students committed to reviving the craft of mask-making.
Each year around this time, you can experience a joyous re-enactment of the original grand old party (about a 10-day affair)…and partake in a dizzying photographic feast without equal! There are many special public events like the candle-lit parade of boats, concerts, street performances and, of course, people parading around in spectacular period costumes. Also, not to be missed, are the opulent masquerade balls held in Venice’s most exclusive private palazzi which anyone can attend, though tickets are pricey. You can either bring your own costume, better yet, hire sumptuous finery from a Venetian atelier.
Most of the photos featured in this post are courtesy of several dear friends and colleagues: Anita Sanseverino Frank Yantorno, and Kathleen Gonzalez who have been taking dazzling photos of La Sernissima and La Bella Italia for decades.
Angels were created long ago, before the earth existed. When God created the earth, the angels began singing in applause. —Job 38:4-7.
What is the purpose of angels and the extent of their powers? Angels serve as messengers of God (the word angel is derived from the Greek angelos meaning messenger). Angels can speak, sing, play musical instruments and dance but they are not omnipresent, omniscient or omnipotent and are not meant to be worshiped by us mortals.
Do angels have names and free will? The Bible only names the four Archangels: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel. Other angels have names too, but they chose not to reveal them; all angels have the freedom to choose between right and wrong . . . those who chose wrong joined Lucifer who, in his rebellion, became the first fallen angel.
Do angels have feelings? Angels experience emotions such as joy and longing but do not marry; in western art they are depicted as ageless and often having a gender.
What about the baby angels? Those endearingly mischievous baby angels, known as putti or amorini — are actually quite old. Derived from pagan sources, they were originally members of Aphrodite’s train who conveyed messages of love to humans (why they always pop up around Valentine’s Day). Renaissance artists such as Donatello and Raphael would breathe new life into them creating a new breed even more fetching and bacchanalian than their ancestors.
How many angels are there? The Bible does not state an exact number, but it attests to their vast number. In a vision the apostle John caught a glimpse of “hundreds of millions of angels.”
May this holiday season bring you good tidings, peace, joy and light!
Buon Natale, Felice Hanukkah e Felice Anno Nuovo!!!
That Italy is timeless almost goes without saying. But what exactly is timelessness and why does Italy practically define it?
Timelessness transcends the past, present and future; it carries a sense of permanence. Timelessness is both a state of being and a state of mind.
Italy, more than any other country, has bequeathed the world a treasure trove of art and architecture with these very qualities.
And Mother Nature has bestowed some of her most glorious gifts on this little boot-shaped peninsula that is barely the size of Arizona.
Less poetically, Italy possesses a human culture and natural allures with no expiration date
But more than this, Italy possesses a special alchemy that has attracted dreamers and travelers alike for centuries.
I sense it most in the quiet . . . a paradox since Italians are the most expressive and exuberant of people. They’re people who just seem to know how to live.
Including, most especially, how to revel in the joy and wonder of small things.
And what could be more timeless than wonder!
Copyright - Postcards from the Boot.