2009 Carnival commences in Viareggio Italy – Barack Obama portrayed among the politicians

February 9, 6:09 PMItalian Living ExaminerSerenella Leoni

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Sunday (February 8) was the kick-off for the 2009 Carnevale di Viareggio in Tuscany, one of the most renowned carnival and Mardi Gras celebrations in Italy and one of the largest in Europe. Among the featured ‘VIP masquerades’ was a small float of Barack Obama. Since the artists who create the famous floats work year round to create their masterpieces, they were very hard-pressed to create a float featuring such a recently elected official. They pulled it off with panache.

The papier mâché giants created and built by renowned local artists, tower above the revelers and pass by the brightly decorated buildings of the seaside promenade. The floats are subjective commentary on current events and feature internationally renowned figures from the world of politics and entertainment. Since Italians love to criticize politics, it is no surprise that the carnival artists take aim at many famous persons.

The float representing President Obama is a ‘soft’ rendition as he is new to office and there is little ammunition for criticism at this time. The Viareggio artists were brutal as usual to Italian political figures, including Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi portrayed in a variety of interpretations, including that of "The Joker." One float features the grotesque image of several Italian ministers roasting a skewered taxpayer over barbecue flames! There are other artistic portrayals, including some with the themes of immigration, of Italians as a flock of geese or of people as faceless mannequins transfixed on their television screens. .

This year, on February 8-15-22-24 and March 1, the enormous allegorical floats dominate the scene in my home town of Viareggio as hundreds of thousands of spectators participate in a three-week bacchanalia. Born as a small celebration in 1873, this pre-Lenten, brouhaha culminating on Martedì Grasso (Fat Tuesday), continues to captivate participants and is quite capable of turning serious adults into masked pranksters. All the townspeople, young and old, participate in Il Carnevale. Excited spectators, including many in costume, line the streets of the town and noisily occupy the balconies overlooking the parade of enormous floats, some as large as 3-4 story buildings.

The Viareggio Carnival is tied to a national lottery that largely contributes to the funding of this event. Carnival balls abound. Special carnival musical theatre performances, featuring the vernacular and traditions of Viareggio, are featured at the local theatres. Each district in town hosts a night of traditional food, wine, festivities and general partying. All this is a testimony to the unique spirit of Viareggio - a town that, in any season, seems dedicated to the celebration of life.

Prizes are awarded to the best floats and masks. The floats include 7 very large carri (floats), 4 smaller carri, 9 group mascherate (walking mask portrayals), 13 single mascherate and 4 majestic extra floats that are not in competition. Long fireworks spectacles pierce the dark winter skies on three separate evenings.

Photos: Upper right - Barack Obama's caricature
Above left: Burlamacco - Mascot of the Carnevale di Viareggio

For a further look at these celebrations, please see links below:

Images from Carnevale di VIareggio:

Video from the general celebrations of Carnevale 2008

Carnevale photos from “Il Tirreno” (Italian newspaper)

Carnevale photos from Italian news quotidiano net:

Italian articles on Carnevale:

From Il Tirreno (Italian newspaper)

From La Nazione (Italian newspaper)