(Venice, Italy) As I enjoy Carnevale 2010, here is a blog rerun from the cache of my Authors' Guild account -- the original, unfortunately, no longer exists -- of the Carnival three years ago, back in 2007.
22 febbraio 2007
7 febbraio 2007
31 gennaio 2007
La Festa delle Marie takes place on opening day of the Venice Carnival, February 9th, at 3:00 p.m., starting at the church of San Pietro di Castello. The procession then makes it way to Piazzo San Marco by way of Via Garibaldi and the Riva degli Schiavoni. All the contestants will be treated like nobility during Carnival, participating in historic processions and exclusive palazzi parties. Then, on Fat Tuesday, one girl will be crowned with the title “Maria dell'Anno” or "Mary of the Year" in Piazza San Marco, winning a one-week vacation for two.
To learn more about the author and her work, please visit Cat Bauer at: www.myspace.com/catbauer and www.catbauer.com
Mask by Sergio Boldrin
22 febbraio 2007
CARNIVAL IN VENICE AND MORE
Director, Bruno Tosi, right, and Lucio Bisutto, singing owner of Trattoria Giorgione on Via Garibaldi with "The Marys" Festa delle Marie, Feb. 9
Venetian artist Maestro Ludovico de Luigi
Costume by Dominique Brunet
Sunglasses by Ottica Vascellari
Jewelry by Ganesha
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| Cat Bauer |
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| Cat Bauer |
Jewelry by Ganesha
Russian performers at the Casinò - February 11, 2007
How did they get the horse to La Fenice? La Cavalchina Ball - February 17
The crowd jumps on stage and La Fenice rocks - Feb. 17
Cat Bauer at La Fenice
Costume by Dominique Brunet
Irene Bello, THE Mary - winner Festa della Marie
I'll try to get a more recent photo!
7 febbraio 2007
THE JURY IS IN
I have to say that being on the jury for the Festa delle Marie was SO MUCH FUN. Not only was I the first straniera, there were only a couple of women. I think I finally figured out why I get along so well in Venice: I have a Venetian sense of humor! Ha! VENETIANS GET THE JOKE. Marino Folin, who is a Very Distinguished Professor by day, had us laughing so hard -- he was really on target. I was sitting between Sig. Folin and the artist, Ludovico de Luigi -- if you can imagine. Sometimes things get a little heavy over here on the island, but, ultimately, everyone remembers it is the Divine Comedy, not the Divine Tragedy.
Anyway, it was fascinating to watch the difference in the girls, who were aged 16 to 27. The contest was amazingly fair, funny and respectful -- somehow we all came to an agreement and picked the top twelve without much effort. For the first time in Il Gazzettino, the girls' astrological signs were listed, as well as their other vital statistics. You can thank Yours Truly for that.
Bruno Tosi, who is directing Carnevale, kept the whole thing on track, and Roberto Ballarin, the director of Il Gazzettino, held up his end on the other side of the very long table.
Afterwards, Tommy Vee, who is a Very Cute International DJ, as well as being Venetian, was mobbed for autographs.
I am going to blog for Carnevale. I will let you know if it will be here, on Myspace, or both.
Anyway, it was fascinating to watch the difference in the girls, who were aged 16 to 27. The contest was amazingly fair, funny and respectful -- somehow we all came to an agreement and picked the top twelve without much effort. For the first time in Il Gazzettino, the girls' astrological signs were listed, as well as their other vital statistics. You can thank Yours Truly for that.
Bruno Tosi, who is directing Carnevale, kept the whole thing on track, and Roberto Ballarin, the director of Il Gazzettino, held up his end on the other side of the very long table.
I am going to blog for Carnevale. I will let you know if it will be here, on Myspace, or both.
FESTA DELLE MARIE
Today I am going to be lazy and just put up my press release:
PRESS RELEASE
AMERICAN AUTHOR FIRST “STRANIERA” ON JURY OF ANCIENT VENETIAN BEAUTY CONTEST
CAT BAUER, YOUNG ADULT NOVELIST - ON THE PANEL OF JUDGES FOR
LA FESTE DELLE MARIE
Venice, January 31, 2007. Award-winning author, Cat Bauer, will be the first foreigner on the jury that selects the most beautiful, or virtuous, girls in Venice.
La Festa delle Marie originated from a pirate raid in 943 a.d., according to Venetian legend. In ancient times, Venetians married on only one day each year. A water procession from the Arsenale on the canal “delle Vergini” started the festivities. All the brides-to-be were rowed across the lagoon in decorated boats brimming with dowries, while their future husbands waited at the Church of San Nicolò at the Lido.
That year, pirates raided the procession, kidnapping the brides and the booty. An enraged Venetian rescue party executed the pirates and brought the brides back to the ceremony.
To commemorate the victory in the past, every year twelve patriarchal families would present twelve virtuous young women from poor Venetian families with a dowry, and the designation “le Marie,” or “The Marys.”
Today, the popular Carnival director, Bruno Tosi, together with Il Gazzettino, the local Venetian newspaper, sponsors a contest where Venetian girls aged 16 to 27 can enter to be a “Marie.” On Friday, February 2nd, the jury will convene at the Venice Casino to select twelve candidates.
PRESS RELEASE
 |
| Cat Bauer |
CAT BAUER, YOUNG ADULT NOVELIST - ON THE PANEL OF JUDGES FOR
LA FESTE DELLE MARIE
Venice, January 31, 2007. Award-winning author, Cat Bauer, will be the first foreigner on the jury that selects the most beautiful, or virtuous, girls in Venice.
La Festa delle Marie originated from a pirate raid in 943 a.d., according to Venetian legend. In ancient times, Venetians married on only one day each year. A water procession from the Arsenale on the canal “delle Vergini” started the festivities. All the brides-to-be were rowed across the lagoon in decorated boats brimming with dowries, while their future husbands waited at the Church of San Nicolò at the Lido.
That year, pirates raided the procession, kidnapping the brides and the booty. An enraged Venetian rescue party executed the pirates and brought the brides back to the ceremony.
To commemorate the victory in the past, every year twelve patriarchal families would present twelve virtuous young women from poor Venetian families with a dowry, and the designation “le Marie,” or “The Marys.”
Today, the popular Carnival director, Bruno Tosi, together with Il Gazzettino, the local Venetian newspaper, sponsors a contest where Venetian girls aged 16 to 27 can enter to be a “Marie.” On Friday, February 2nd, the jury will convene at the Venice Casino to select twelve candidates.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be the first foreigner on the jury,” said Cat Bauer, creator of the teenage protagonist, Harley Columba. “It’s a tribute to all ex-patriots who live here and who love and respect this city.
Miss Bauer added, "My protagonist is a young artist who comes from the New Jersey suburbs. She must pass many tests of character in order to achieve success in New York City. To me, being virtuous means exploring all the colors life has to offer while maintaining a childlike innocence.In his book entitled, ‘With Peggy Guggenheim,’ Paolo Barozzi, who is descended from one of Venice’s oldest noble families, says: ‘I am convinced that real nobility comes from the heart.’ La Festa delle Marie reflects that message.
“In addition, the festival on February 9th nearly coincides with the publication date of my books in America on February 13th, which makes it especially meaningful.” Knopf, a division of Random House, will republish Miss Bauer’s first novel, “Harley, Like a Person,” as well as a new companion novel called, “Harley’s Ninth.”
La Festa delle Marie takes place on opening day of the Venice Carnival, February 9th, at 3:00 p.m., starting at the church of San Pietro di Castello. The procession then makes it way to Piazzo San Marco by way of Via Garibaldi and the Riva degli Schiavoni. All the contestants will be treated like nobility during Carnival, participating in historic processions and exclusive palazzi parties. Then, on Fat Tuesday, one girl will be crowned with the title “Maria dell'Anno” or "Mary of the Year" in Piazza San Marco, winning a one-week vacation for two.
To learn more about the author and her work, please visit Cat Bauer at: www.myspace.com/catbauer and www.catbauer.com
Ciao from Venice in the Year 2010,
Cat
Mask by Sergio Boldrin
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