When is Carnival?
During the year there are many celebrations, but two anniversaries - among all - are more complicated to place on the calendar because they always change: Carnival and Easter.
It has nothing to do with the leap year, it doesn't depend on commercial logic. To know when it is permissible to gorge on tortelli with cream or cut the dove, you need to refer to the moon, the spring equinox, have a calendar and an abacus.
We start from Easter to arrive at Carnival, even if chronologically the latter is celebrated first.
Easter falls on the Sunday following the first full moon following the spring equinox (which is March 21). Clear?
Take a lunar calendar, find the first full moon shining after March 21 and the Sunday following this moon.
This little game has been developed over centuries and centuries to ensure that Easter always falls on Sunday.
But let's get to the Carnival .
Starting from Easter, six weeks are subtracted: the first five are Lent (40 days), the sixth is Carnival.
So in 2023, February 16th will be Shrove Thursday, February 21st Shrove Tuesday and Wednesday February 22nd (Ash Wednesday) the day that begins Lent.
But why is Carnival celebrated?
The term carnival derives from the Latin carnem levare , meaning "remove the meat". The carnival period precedes Lent and for Christians it is a time of celebration and abundance before the renowned Lenten "foils" . The term is probably of medieval origin, but the habit of celebrating this time of year is older. It was, in fact, a festival to celebrate the end of the winter period and the rebirth of the products of the earth. In short: a celebration of fertility.
Between antiquity and the Middle Ages, East and West, a whole series of traditions developed. From that of disguising oneself to embody the life of another person for a few hours, to that of creating puppets to set on fire as a sign of purification and good omen.
But let's get to the point.
What do you eat in Milan during Carnival?
The Chats
This very simple, but extremely tasty dessert is widespread throughout Italy. The name changes, but not the substance, in the various Italian regions: frappe, crostoli, lie, cenci. Whatever their name, you will always be sure to satisfy your cravings with a crunchy and delicious dessert. Traditionally fried, they are also baked in the oven to make them drier and lighter.
The Tortelli
Obviously fried ... They can also be baked, but we care about tradition. They are pancakes - made with a dough similar to that of cream puffs - dipped in sugar.
Delicious empty , tortelli become irresistible once filled with custard , but also with chocolate, ricotta and cinnamon, pistachio...
In the rest of Italy they are called castagnole .
And now tell us: what is your favorite Carnival dessert?