Carnival, the season for festivities and merrymaking before Lent, was often celebrated by the well-to-do in 18th century France through operas, balls and masquerades. In her earlier years, Marie Antoinette took full advantage of these festivities and was often out all night in celebration, and held increasingly busy and magnificent balls. Maria Theresa, surprisingly - although perhaps not so surprising when taking into consideration her adherence to Catholic traditions - told the Austrian ambassador Mercy she could not disapprove of how her daughter was behaving during carnival, and even wrote Marie Antoinette that she was pleased she was enjoying the carnival time so well.
Of course, once carnival ended, Maria Theresa was more than willing to return to her more usual admonishments regarding Marie Antoinette’s behavior.
Thank god, this eternal carnival is over! That exclamation will make me look very old, but I must admit that all those late nights are too tiring; I feared for the Court’s health and the order of its usual habits, which is an essential point. All reading, all the other occupations will have been interrupted for two months … when one is young, one doesn’t think about it; as one ages, one realizes it…
-Maria Theresa to Marie Antoinette, 5 March 1775
(via the-life-quixotic)
