# Wearing masks was mandatory in old Venice? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 6, 2010, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688 "2010-11-06T08:27:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/1 "2010-11-06T08:27:24Z")
I am currently reading Ian Kelly’s biography of Giacomo Casanova (whom we are doing injustice by remembering him mainly as a seducer - he was a gifted polymath), and of course the author tries to capture the spirit of carnival in 18th century Venice. There is a reference that surprised me: “There was mandatory mask-wearing, for an entire city, day and night, from October to Ash Wednesday, with a brief break for Christmas…” Now I have read elsewhere before that mask-wearing in public, even when doing everyday business, was not uncommon in Venice. I also see that modern-day concepts of individual freedom and a sphere of privacy which the state is not supposed to interfere with are not really applicable to _ancien régime_ Europe, which had a much looser concept of freedom. Yet, I don’t really see the point of a legal requirement like this. Why would a state stipulate a mask-wearing duty in everyday life? Or is the author exaggerating here, meaning simply that mask-wearing in public was legal and common, but not mandatory? ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/2 "2010-11-06T08:36:35Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > Why would a state stipulate a mask-wearing duty in everyday life? Ask Saudi Arabia. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/3 "2010-11-06T09:44:46Z")
You may be overinterpreting the word “mandatory”. It could have been societally mandatory - i.e. the “done thing” and you could be scorned for not doing it - but not a legal requirement. Is there any more context to the quote? Also, I think masts would only be mandatory if one were a boat. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/4 "2010-11-06T09:57:17Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Also, I think masts would only be mandatory if one were a boat. Yes, but wearing them might be a bit tricky! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/5 "2010-11-06T11:35:20Z")
Might it depend upon one’s cap size? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/6 "2010-11-06T11:39:23Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Yes, but wearing them might be a bit tricky! 🙂 Especially if one were three sheets to the wind. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/7 "2010-11-06T13:35:06Z")
It might have been tough for the older men…viagra being only a recent discovery. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/8 "2010-11-06T14:14:54Z")
The point would be so that people could quickly tell if they liked the cut of your jib. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/9 "2010-11-06T14:34:57Z")
And one could easily discern if the sun were over the yardarm. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/10 "2010-11-06T14:38:52Z")
It would make it easy to pick your sparring partner. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/11 "2010-11-06T14:51:55Z")
Or if you were just giving them a line because you had too much port. Then they would be obliged to deck you for not being on an even keel. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/12 "2010-11-06T14:59:20Z")
So you weren’t allowed to appear in public if you’ve had a mastectomy? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/13 "2010-11-06T15:04:00Z")
If your mast is upright for more than four hours, see your doctor. (He’ll probably prescribe leeches.) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/14 "2010-11-06T15:05:35Z")
Gives new meaning to “Master and Commander”. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/15 "2010-11-06T15:06:17Z")
Master? I don’t even know 'er! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/16 "2010-11-06T16:18:36Z")
Corrected spelling in thread title from “masts” to “masks.” Sorry if it makes the jokes less intelligible.😉 Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/17 "2010-11-06T17:04:11Z")
I didn’t notice that the OP was written by **Schnitte**. While the image of people walking around wearing masts is amusing, it’s an understandable mistake when one’s native language is not English. No harm intended, **Schnitte**! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/18 "2010-11-06T17:06:51Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Corrected spelling in thread title from “masts” to “masks.” > > Sorry if it makes the jokes less intelligible.😉 > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator Spoilsport. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/19 "2010-11-06T18:37:24Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Corrected spelling in thread title from “masts” to “masks.” Thanks indeed. Sorry to everyone amused by the typo (it was indeed a typo - I do know the difference between the two words). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688/20 "2010-11-06T18:51:32Z")
Of course it was frowned upon to hang dead fish from your mast in public. No telling what you could catch that way. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-masks-was-mandatory-in-old-venice/559688.md?page=2)