In Venetian dialect 'brusa la vecia' way 'burn the quondam woman'. Then , amongst the handsome gateway to the Arsenale I saw this effigy suspended inwards the sunshine:
H5N1 location of online query reveals that the custom of burning the effigy of a hag is widespread inwards northern Italia , or at to the lowest degree inwards the northeast , where it most usually takes house at Epiphany (6th January). I did discovery i reference to the tradition of celebrating 'Metà Quaresima' - half-Lent - inwards a like fashion:
> Festivals of Italy
Even a local Venetian friend wasn't real well-up on this number , though making the skillful proposition that it resembled a heathen 'farewell to winter' celebration.
So I turned upwards inwards the eventide in addition to establish a real local number - to a greater extent than frequently than non families from the local parish , standing in addition to chatting or dancing with children every bit a human sang Italian standards with a microphone over recorded music. Punctually at 7:30pm , without much fanfare , every bit the vocaliser emoted through Te voglio bene assai , the dangling figure was ignited in addition to proceeded to burn downwards merrily every bit the onlookers clustered merely about , with fragments of burning cloth spiralling upwards higher upwards our heads.
Then the effigy burned away , a woman mortal vocaliser took over on the niggling phase with a vocal dedicated to a local niggling daughter , in addition to the niggling crowd returned to chatting , drinking an ombra and eating the snacks provided. One peradventure inebriated quondam human inwards a woollen chapeau swayed every bit he blew kisses to the singer. There was an proclamation close 'again this fourth dimension adjacent year' , in addition to the drama was over.
So if yous are inwards Venice halfway through Lent inwards the futurity , I'd propose heading to the Arsenale to come across what yous find.
