The Origin Of Carnival In Europe

Carnival is the popular festival in Europe, it takes place before the Lenten fast. Compared with the solemnity and sacrifice of Lent, Carnival is chaotic, confused, and disorienting. People can do what they want to do in the festival, so Carnival is regarded as a time for liberation, surrealism and intoxication.There are two points about the origin of Carnival in Europe. Some think that it origins from pagan culture. Others think that it comes from Christian culture. "What is the cultural source of Carnival in Europe" will be discussed by analyzing the two points.Firstly: Carnival in Europe and pagan culture (the first chapter). Renaissance humanists and church reformers who have their own intentions firstly advance the theory that Carnival is an heir to pagan rites. Carnival may be connected historically to pagan festivals such as Dionysian and Saturnalia of classical antiquity, because Carnival shares common customs with these festivals. Carnival seems to have been recognized as a time for escape, for letting go the restrains of rationality, social hierarchy, and self-control. It is easy to associate the event with licentiousness, drunkenness, and orgies of Dionysian. In addition, there are common features such as masks, plays and parades between Carnival and Dionysian. In the same time, the subversive customs in Carnival and the inverse traditions in Saturnalia are alike; the activities that scarecrow is blamed in Carnival and scapegoat is punished in Saturnalia are similar. For another thing, the word "Carnival" is linked with pagan culture according to the etymological research. With the help of it, the theory looks more reasonable.Secondly: Carnival in Europe and Christian culture (the second chapter). Carnival may develop from the Christian culture. On one hand, topsy-turvy activities in Carnival are relative to upside-down rites of the whole Christmas season. These upside-down rites of the whole Christmas season are called respectively as the Feast of the Boy-bishop, the Feast of Fools and the Feast of Asses. The chief location of the festivities was the church itself, and the principal organisers were the children in choir...