At carnival, every joke is valid — in designated periods of licence and festivity, normal rules of decorum are suspended. What would be rude or inappropriate at other times is permitted during carnival.
The Ambrosian Carnival of Milan is the longest in Italy — it continues four days beyond the carnival of other Italian cities, ending on the Saturday after Ash Wednesday rather than on Mardi Gras. This Milanese peculiarity, attributed to a twelfth-century bishop who delayed his return from a pilgrimage and did not want the city to miss its carnival, created a tradition of extended celebration. In a city of hard work and commercial discipline, carnival was the valve through which pressure escaped: the masked reveller could say what the citizen could not; the street comedian could mock the powerful; the costumes dissolved the social hierarchies that governed the rest of the year. This proverb captures that ancient licence.
Lombard proverb tied to the unique Ambrosian Carnival of Milan, which extends four days beyond other Italian carnivals. The tradition of masked licence is ancient.
Milanese carnival revellers in the Duomo piazza
— Hai detto al sindaco che è un incompetente travestito da politico. — A carnaval ogni scherz val. Domani torno a essere un cittadino rispettoso.
— You told the mayor he is an incompetent dressed as a politician. — At carnival, every joke is valid. Tomorrow I go back to being a respectful citizen.
At a Milanese office carnival party
Il direttore si è travestito da operaio e gli operai da direttori. A carnaval ogni scherz val — domani si torna alle gerarchie.
The director dressed as a worker and the workers as directors. At carnival, every joke is valid — tomorrow we return to hierarchies.
A Milanese comedian explaining carnival satire
L'Ambrosiana dura quattro giorni in più. A carnaval ogni scherz val — e quei quattro giorni in più sono sacrosanti.
The Ambrosian carnival lasts four more days. At carnival, every joke is valid — and those four extra days are sacrosanct.
A parent explaining carnival masks to a child
Con la maschera puoi dire cose che normalmente non diresti. A carnaval ogni scherz val — ma solo a carnaval.
With the mask you can say things you would not normally say. At carnival, every joke is valid — but only at carnival.