The Venice Carnival is being held online for the first time due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Saturday, February 6, the official website of the holiday began broadcasting specially recorded programs about the customs of the carnival.
Streaming will also take place on February 7, and from February 11 to 16. Thus, the carnival will end traditionally on Fat Tuesday – the eve of the beginning of Catholic Lent. It is noted that the platform will be able to receive up to 100 thousand viewers per day.
According to the organizers, special “virtual rooms” will be launched to demonstrate the costumes. In addition, performances, laboratories and interactive stories are provided for children.
At the same time, due to the difficult epidemiological situation in 2021, the main events of the carnival – the Flight of the Angel, masquerade balls and all the processions – will not take place.
According to eyewitnesses, there are almost no mummers on the streets of Venice, with the exception of rare tourists. This is due to the fact that in Italy there are restrictions on movement between regions of the country.
On February 3, it became known that the organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest decided not to hold the competition in the usual format. It is assumed that due to the pandemic, the competition will be held on a reduced scale and with respect for the social distance between the artists.