The origins of the Carnival of Venice can be traced back to the early Middle Ages. The first appearance of the term “Carnival of Venice” is in a document by the Doge Vitale Falier in 1094. The Christian term for the carnival (“carne vale” = “a farewell to the flesh”) is a reference to the last night before Shrove Tuesday. However, it is likely that it originally had to do with celebrating the coming of spring. The Carnival of Venice eventually found its current purpose in 1420 when the Doge held the first celebration in honour of the Venetians’ glorious victory over northern Aquileia. In this ceremony a bull and 12 pigs were slaughtered as a symbol of the Aquileian enemy. From then on, this festival was held every year and involved more and more of Venice’s citizens in the festivities and hustle and bustle.