Carnival is a time of dancing, having fun and eating delicacies. In the heat of carnival madness, it is better not to forget about the superstitions and traditions associated with this period.
According to ancient beliefs, certain activities had to be performed at this time to ensure prosperity. In front of others, you had to hold back so as not to get into trouble. We tell you what not to do to avoid misfortune in the future.
Carnival is a time of fun, parades and masquerades. Most often, it begins on Epiphany, i.e. January 6, and lasts until Ash Wednesday, ending on the Tuesday before it. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent and the wait for Easter. In Poland, the most important thing was Shrovetide, or Shrove Tuesday. These are the last days of carnival, starting in… Fat Thursdaywhich is a moveable feast.
It is a period of winter balls and fun, which comes from ancient pagan rituals and is associated with the Roman Saturnalia. It was developed in medieval Italy, especially in Venice, as a joyful time before the advent of Christian fasting, as indicated by the likely source of the name. “Carnem levāre” means “meat to remove”, and “caro, vale” means “goodbye meat”.
Carnival is a time accompanied by many superstitions intended to guarantee prosperity and ward off. The most important was the superstition regarding Shrove Tuesday. It was supposed to be a time for celebration, not work. Heavy physical work had to be avoided.
At that time, it was also forbidden to bring wood from the forest near the house, so as not to bring snakes to it. You should also not use sharp tools so as not to hurt the spirits that may visit the house at that time.
Especially during the carnival, unpleasant conversations, for example those about death, were not allowed. It could only bring misfortune to the household, but carnival was supposed to be a time of joy and merriment.
For this reason, during the carnival, you were not supposed to get angry, raise your voice or bang your fist on the table. This could scare visitors from the spirit world. A good atmosphere at home guaranteed prosperity for the household members.
The end of the carnival is its loudest part, but you need to know when to end the fun. According to superstition, one should return from the celebration on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday before midnight. Anyone who does not finish the game in time will be exposed to great misfortune. As the proverb says: “On Shrovetide Tuesday, the devil stands behind the door of the inn and lists those who leave after midnight.”
Anyone who is not home before midnight runs the risk of wandering around the world aimlessly. So it’s better to come back at the right time.
