I'll admit, I didn't know what to expect from Carnivale because I have never been to a Mardi Gras in the United States. But, I was supposed to go with my friends this year in New Orleans. Before we came to Carnivale, I was a little sad because I wish I could have been having the experience with some of my best friends back home. Then it hit me.... I am in Italy (the birthplace of humor), more specifically in Viareggio (the largest Carnivale celebration in Italy) during Carnivale. How cool is that!!?? I seriously had the time of my life. I thought it was extremely ironic because there were floats about saving the environment yet people were throwing confetti EVERYWHERE through the streets. Imagine the most confetti you've ever seen in your life and multiply that by about 20. When we got home I ended up having confetti in places I never thought could be possible, even inside of my socks between my toes!!
Over the past few weeks in my Rhetoric of Humor class, we have talked a lot about Carnivale because we are lucky to be in Italy during the Carnivale season. Carnivale in Italy is the equivalence to Mardi Gras in the United States. By admitting this I may be showing my ignorance, but I never knew that Mardi Gras has a great purpose in the Catholic church. This celebration takes place during winter when times are hard for agriculture. Because times are difficult, Carnivale helps prevent revolts by allowing people to splurge before the lent period. Carnivale is about laughing as a group to be cathartic by purging fears and anxieties. Humor doesn't always have to make people laugh but can be portrayed just through absurdity. I wasn't sure what to expect during the Carnivale, but the floats were the exact definition of absurdity that they were absolutely humorous. Many of the floats had some humorous representations of Donald Trump that were so humorous that you just had to laugh no matter what your political views were!
Sometimes I get sad that I am not back home with my friends during my last semester of college. Then I usually have to pinch myself and remember that I am living in Italy for 3 months, getting to travel while getting an education through Texas A&M University (A-WHOOP!)!! I know so many people would love to be experiencing what I'm currently experiencing and I tend to take that for granted. I think it's absolutely amazing that I have the opportunity to be completely immersed in a new culture, getting to learn ways that people around the world do things differently than many Americans are used to. As an American, I think we can sometimes be naive to think that we only need to know our own culture norms. There is so much to learn about our world and the people in it! If anyone has the slightest dream of traveling the world, please please please GO FOR IT!! Not only can you learn about other cultures, but so much about yourself!
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