Masked Celebrations and Banished Spirits: Carnival, an Ancestral Ritual Against Winter

Masked Celebrations and Banished Spirits: Carnival, an Ancestral Ritual Against Winter

As February progresses and the days timidly grow longer, an explosion of colors takes over cities and countryside alike—Carnival. Behind its joyful festivities, vibrant costumes, and nocturnal masquerades lies a tradition deeply rooted in ancient rites, where masks played a crucial role in battling winter and its malevolent spirits.

I. A Pagan Legacy Turned Christian

Long before it became a Christian celebration, Carnival drew its essence from grand ancient festivals marking the arrival of spring—such as the Greek Dionysia, Roman Saturnalia, Egyptian Sham El-Nessim, and the Celtic Imbolc. These festivities shared a common goal: to exorcise winter through joyful rites and invoke the return of light and fertility.

With the advent of Christianity, these celebrations were incorporated into the religious calendar, and Carnival became a period of indulgence before Lent. The use of masks, which granted anonymity and reversed social roles, allowed people to break free from societal norms for a day of festive liberation.

II. The Frightening Masks of the Old World

At the heart of Carnival lies the mask, but its role once extended far beyond mere entertainment. Throughout Europe, ancestral traditions used it to ward off winter spirits and purify communities before the arrival of spring.

In Central Europe, the figure of Krampus embodies this belief. This horned demon, a companion of Saint Nicholas in the Austrian and Bavarian Alps, was said to punish unruly children. During the Krampusläufe, masked men parade in fur costumes, shaking chains and bells to drive away evil spirits.

In Hungary, the Busójárás of Mohács sees locals don grotesque wooden masks to scare off the demons of winter.

In Romania, year-end masquerades feature grotesque masks and fur costumes. The Jocul Caprei ("Goat Dance"), for example, showcases half-human, half-animal figures symbolizing death and rebirth.

In Bulgaria, the Kukeri tradition follows a similar principle: men dressed in goat or sheep furs, wearing terrifying masks adorned with horns and long mustaches, march loudly with bells to ward off evil.

In Switzerland, masked customs appear in Silvesterklausen in Appenzell. On December 31 and January 13, Silvesterkläuse roam villages in elaborate costumes: the "Beautiful" (Schöne), with richly decorated headdresses; the "Ugly" (Wüeschte), covered in moss and twigs; and the "Beautiful-Ugly" (Schö-Wüeschte), a mix of both. In the Lötschental valley, the Tschäggättä—masked figures dressed in animal hides—emerge in February to frighten passersby and cleanse souls.

III. Venice: From Festive Masks to Plague Masks

The Venetian Carnival, one of the most famous in the world, has made the mask its symbol. The Bauta, a white mask allowing its wearer to speak and drink while remaining anonymous, and the Moretta, a small black mask that rendered its wearer silent, once represented anonymity and social freedom.

However, one of Venice’s most iconic masks, the Medico della Peste, has a much darker origin. Designed in the 17th century by physician Charles de Lorme, it was worn by doctors treating plague victims. Its long beak contained aromatic herbs, believed to filter contaminated air and offer protection from disease. Later integrated into Venetian festivities, it transformed from a relic of fear into a carnival spectacle.

A Tradition That Lives On

Today, even if the mystical significance of these rituals has faded, Carnival continues to uphold an ancient heritage. Dressing up, wearing a mask, and breaking social norms—these practices still echo the beliefs of our ancestors.

Behind every mask and colorful costume lies the distant echo of past rituals, where humans, through celebration, sought to ward off winter’s hardships and welcome the return of spring. So next time you encounter a frightening mask in a parade, remember—it’s far more than just an accessory. It is the modern heir of an age-old tradition aimed at taming winter and its darkness.