Did you know Carnival is celebrated in many regions, cities, and countries around the world? The origins of this celebration are blended and each place has its own unique expressions of this festival as well as its meaning. Check out these wonderful print outs that show costumes typically worn in these three different cities. Do you know where these cities are? Do you know of the languages spoken in these cities? Is Carnival a festival in your city and if so what are the bright colors of the Carnival in your city? The two individuals in the coloring activity are wearing the fancy dress of Venice. Thus this is a depiction of “Il Carnevale di Venezia”.

These days the Carnival festivities attracts thousands of tourists, but, the celebrations have only recently been brought back from having been banned for two centuries!  In 1797 Emperor Francis II outlawed the festival, also making banning masks. Celebrations happened only secretly, until recently when in 1979 the Italian government revived the history and culture of Venice using traditional Carnival as a vehicle for promoting the city to the world.

You can download and print this coloring activity below!