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Carnival in Venice. Gnaga cat mask.
Gnaga: The Mask of Mystery and Mischief
The Gnaga mask is one of the most unusual masks of the Venetian Carnival. Shaped like a cat’s face, it was traditionally worn by men disguising themselves as women. Unlike elegant noble masks, the Gnaga was a symbol of satire and humor.
In the past, wearers of the Gnaga mask dressed in women’s clothes, spoke in high-pitched voices, and carried baskets with kittens to complete the disguise. Some say it was used for secret meetings, while others believe it mocked Venetian society. It was also linked to Commedia dell’arte, where cat-like characters were often clever and mischievous.
Even today, the Gnaga mask remains a favorite for those who love mystery, disguise, and playful trickery at the Venice Carnival.
The Gnaga mask is one of the most unusual masks of the Venetian Carnival. Shaped like a cat’s face, it was traditionally worn by men disguising themselves as women. Unlike elegant noble masks, the Gnaga was a symbol of satire and humor.
In the past, wearers of the Gnaga mask dressed in women’s clothes, spoke in high-pitched voices, and carried baskets with kittens to complete the disguise. Some say it was used for secret meetings, while others believe it mocked Venetian society. It was also linked to Commedia dell’arte, where cat-like characters were often clever and mischievous.
Even today, the Gnaga mask remains a favorite for those who love mystery, disguise, and playful trickery at the Venice Carnival.
Vocabulary for Venice Carnival
noble - belonging by rank, title, or birth to the aristocracy.
знатный, благородный
high-pitched - (of a sound) high.
пронзительный, высокий
basket - a container made of twigs, rushes, thin strips of wood, or other flexible material woven together.
корзина
disguise - to give a new appearance to a person or thing, esp. in order to hide its true form
маскировка
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What to do during a carnival
Vocabulary for the video
enchantment - a feeling of great pleasure; delight.
the state of being under a spell; magic.
the state of being under a spell; magic.
очарование
to immerse - involve oneself deeply in a particular activity.
dip or submerge in a liquid.
dip or submerge in a liquid.
погрузить
gracefully - in an attractively elegant way.
изящно
stick to something - to continue doing or using (something) especially when it is difficult to do so.
придерживаться чего-либо
to fuel - to provide power to something
подпитывать, разжигать
snacks - a small amount of food eaten between meals.
закуски
tavern - an inn or pub.
таверна
to blur - make or become unclear or less distinct.
размыть
to glide - move with a smooth, quiet continuous motion.
скользить
- Phrasal verb of the dayФразовый глагол дня
- To join inприсоединиться
- to participate in an activityучаствовать в деятельности
What do you remember? (Vocab)
| Take the quiz |
In Venice, the Gnaga mask was often worn by men pretending to be women from ____ families.
| Next |
| Check |
Those who wore the mask would speak in a ____ voice to make their disguise more convincing.
| Next |
| Check |
A person wearing the Gnaga mask often carried a ____ filled with small kittens, adding to the illusion.
| Next |
| Check |
The mask was a perfect ____ for those who wanted to hide their identity and move unnoticed.
| Next |
| Check |
Many believed that the cat mask had a strange sense of ____, making the wearer seem mysterious.
| Next |
| Check |
The mask’s design was both playful and ____, capturing the elegant movements of a cat.
| Next |
| Check |
At the Venetian Carnival, masked figures would ____ through the narrow streets, adding to the magical atmosphere.
| Next |
| Check |
Great work! Well done!
| Restart |
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Questions to discuss with your teacher:
- What animal is your favorite? Why?
- What would you choose? Noble mask or satire and humor? Why?
- Do you like satire? Why or why not?
- What famous satire writers do you know?
- What were the best things to do in Venice in the video?
- What restaurant from the video would you choose? Why?