01 January
New Year's Day
06 January
Epiphany
13 February - 24 February
Carnival - it was officially sanctioned by the city Senate in 1296 when
it declared a public holiday the day before Ash Wednesday. Celebrations
lengthened and people were allowed to masquerade from December 26th. It
was a clever move by the local government to allow the poor and working
classes to publicly mimic the elite by wearing a mask and thus easing
social tensions. During Carnival, the city was transformed into a giant
playground with jugglers, acrobats and exotic animal trainers. Music and
dancing in the street broke out everywhere. Meanwhile the aristocracy
held lavish parties in private palazzi, gambled and indulged in libertine
behaviour. Eventually the Carnival lost its shine with the Republic decline
and completely banned under the Fascist regime. The celebrations were
resurrected in the 1970s and in recent years the Carnival has attracted
worldwide popularity and sponsorships. Several performances and parties
take place during this festive period, some public, some private. Streets
are packed with extravagant masks and costumes, refreshments and gastronomic
delicacies are served by local restaurants.
Costumes and masks can be bought or hired from this web site.
25 February
Ash Wednesday - According to the Catholic church, this is the day when the faithful are reminded of their fragile nature (ash, dust). It is also the beginning of Lent, when the Catholic faithful exercise restrain by fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and by abstaining from eating meats on each Friday leading to Easter Sunday.
14 February
Valentine's Day - The lovers' day
10 April
Good Friday - it is not a public holiday but many religious activities take place. All religious statues are covered to commemorate the death of Christ on the Cross. Also churches' bells are tied and would not ring until Sunday when, according to the Christian tradition, Christ rises from the dead.
12 April
Easter Sunday
13 April
Easter Monday
19 April
31st 'Su e zo per i ponti' - Non competitive marathon along the "calli" of Venice
09 - 15 April
Passover - Jewish holiday commemorating the exodus from Egypt
25 April
Liberation Day - also St Mark patron of Venice; on this day it is tradition for the men to present a rose (bocolo) to their lover.
01 May
Labour Day
31 May
35th Vogalonga - Non competitive rowing race. In the morning, all boats of various shapes and sizes get together in St Mark's Basin to await the start. The 30 kilometre course runs through the lagoon islands before returning to Venice at the Punta della Dogana.
21 May
Feast of 'Sensa' - also Ascension Day. On this day the Doge and members of the government, on board the "Bucintoro", a magnificent, gilded and richly adorned ceremonial boat, was rowed to S. Nicolò del Lido, followed by a procession of decorated boats of all colours and sizes. Here took place the ceremony to renew the rite of the union between the Republic and the sea, with the Doge throwing a ring into the lagoon with the Latin words 'Desponsamus te, mare, in signum veri perpetuique dominii' (We espouse thee, O sea, in sign of our real and perpetual dominion over thee). This ceremony is still repeated today with great solemnity. Today, the same ritual is carried out by the Mayor, accompanied by the Patriarch of Venice and by the highest civil and military authorities.
02 June
Anniversary of the Republic (1946)
29 May
Shavuot - Jewish holiday celebrating God giving the Torah and the Ten Commandments to the Jews at Mt. Sinai
First Sunday of June
Palio of the Ancient Maritime Republics - A yearly boat race between the four Italian Maritime Republics of Venice, Genoa, Amalfi and Pisa. This two thousand-metre race is preceded by a spectacular pageant of over 400 boaters with participants in period costumes. Genoa will host the race in 2008.
17 - 17 July
'Redentore' Feast Day and Regatta of the Redeemer. One of the oldest Venetian festivals, it is celebrated on the third weekend in July to remember the end of the plague in the year 1576. A bridge built on boats is created to allow the faithful to walk across the Grand Canal to the Giudecca church. Not to be missed, on the Saturday night, is the fireworks display, one of the best in the world. Venetians usually watch the show on board hundreds of boats; after the display, they leave for the Lido to await the sunrise.
July
Murano Regatta - rowing race around the island
August
Pellestrina Regatta - rowing race around the island
15 August
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
05 September
Historical Regatta - Held every year on the first Sunday of September, this is Venice's finest pageants, a showcase of the rowing skills of the city's men and women. A procession of richly decorated boats, their crews in period costumes, travels down the Grand Canal. The finale is the competitive race between gondoliers.
September
Burano Regatta - rowing race around the island
28 September
Yom Kippur (Judgement Day) - Jewish festivity
25 October
24th Venice Marathon - Official marathon along the Brenta Riviera to Venice
01 November
All Saints' Day
21 November
'Salute' Feast Day of our Lady of Good Health - Similar to the Feast of the Redentore, this celebration marks the end of the 1630 plague. Again, a pontoon of boats is lined up to allow worshippers to cross the Canal to reach the Salute basilica.
08 December
Immaculate Conception
25 December
Christmas Day
26 December
Boxing Day (known as the Feast of St Stephen)