At Carnival every joke is allowed — during the days of Carnival, social norms are relaxed and pranks, satire, and mockery that would normally be offensive are accepted as part of the festivity. The proverb also warns, with irony, that the licence of Carnival can be exploited.
Carnival in Tuscany — particularly in the great Carnival of Viareggio, which has been celebrated since 1873 and is one of the most famous in Italy — is the annual moment when the normal order of things is inverted. Kings become beggars, the powerful are mocked in giant papier-mâché floats, and the rules of decorous social behaviour are suspended. In the medieval and Renaissance city of Florence, Carnival was equally transgressive: masked figures roamed the streets, class distinctions blurred, and satirical songs (canti carnascialeschi) made pointed fun of politicians, clergy, and merchants. Lorenzo de' Medici himself wrote carnival songs of great ribaldry. The proverb captures the temporal exception of this permission: it is valid only now, during these days, and will not hold outside them. The irony embedded in the phrase — used year-round to justify mildly inappropriate behaviour with a grin — is typically Tuscan.
Rooted in the centuries-old Tuscan Carnival tradition, with particular resonance in the Versilia coast culture of Viareggio, home to Italy's most famous Carnival parade, and in Florence where Lorenzo de' Medici wrote celebrated carnival songs.
A group of friends in Viareggio defending a costume that exaggerates a local politician's known flaws
— Non è un po' esagerata quella maschera? — A Carnevale ogni scherzo vale. È solo una festa.
— Is that costume not a bit extreme? — At Carnival every joke is allowed. It is just a celebration.
A Florentine man using Carnival week to finally tell his boss what he thinks, in a joking way
Ho detto al mio capo quello che pensavo — con le maschere, ridendo. A Carnevale ogni scherzo vale.
I told my boss what I thought — with masks on, laughing. At Carnival every joke is allowed.
A mother explaining to her children why people are doing strange things in the street
A Carnevale ogni scherzo vale — per questi giorni si può ridere di tutto. Poi si torna alla normalità.
At Carnival every joke is allowed — for these days you can laugh at everything. Then things go back to normal.
A friend justifying an outrageous prank played outside the Carnival season
— Non è neanche Carnevale! — A Carnevale ogni scherzo vale — e io sono in Carnevale tutto l'anno.
— It is not even Carnival! — At Carnival every joke is allowed — and for me Carnival is all year round.