The tradition of Debs' Ball was born in 1700 when in the noble palaces of the period, before French Revolution, in a shining of lights, mirrors and golden stuccoes, young aristocratic girls between 17 and 23 years, had the opportunity of finding their own "Prince Charming".
Unfortunately , in that period, after the 23 years, the girls were considered "spinsters".
However, French Revolution didn't manage to stop this wonderful tradition (the famous and now declined Debs' Ball at the Hotel de Crillon in Paris had one of its two non-editions just in 1789), that survived Revolution itself finding its highest apogee during the "Congress of Vienna" know also as "Dancing Congress".
Afterwards just the Emperor of Austria, the Young Francis Joseph, will give further impulse to this type of manifestations. He was the first person to organize dancing parties at the Theatre of Opera in Vienna. This tradition will consolidate in the long run and today it is represented by the famous "Opernball", the Debs' Ball that every year takes place on Thursday before Shrove Tuesday at the "Opera" in Vienna, broadcast in all over the world and in which young girls from all over the world take part (among them there are also some Debs of "Vienna sul Lago”).
Faithful to the tradition, the Great Ball "Vienna sul Lago" wants to offer to the young girls, not just the opportunity of finding the "Prince Charming", but a romantic dream, even if this, exactly as the dreams, lasts only one night.
A romantic dream in all its details: from the place, Lake Maggiore's enchanted shores and Regina Palace Hotel's splendid nineteenth-century halls; from the Debs' dance-partners, the young cadets from the Naval Academy of Livorno; from the white and gauzy dresses for the Debs and the Full-dress Uniform for the Cadets and the smoking for the guests; from the Gala-dinner, served by the impeccable pupils of the hotel-school in Stresa and from sommeliers of Italian Association Sommeliers and so until the music played by an orchestra of thirty members, in an evening that is the only one in Italy which takes place under the High Patronage of the Mayor of the City of Vienna and which enjoys the glamorous Pleading of the Foreign Office and the Embassies of Austria to the Quirinal and the Holy See.
Unfortunately , in that period, after the 23 years, the girls were considered "spinsters".
However, French Revolution didn't manage to stop this wonderful tradition (the famous and now declined Debs' Ball at the Hotel de Crillon in Paris had one of its two non-editions just in 1789), that survived Revolution itself finding its highest apogee during the "Congress of Vienna" know also as "Dancing Congress".
Afterwards just the Emperor of Austria, the Young Francis Joseph, will give further impulse to this type of manifestations. He was the first person to organize dancing parties at the Theatre of Opera in Vienna. This tradition will consolidate in the long run and today it is represented by the famous "Opernball", the Debs' Ball that every year takes place on Thursday before Shrove Tuesday at the "Opera" in Vienna, broadcast in all over the world and in which young girls from all over the world take part (among them there are also some Debs of "Vienna sul Lago”).
Faithful to the tradition, the Great Ball "Vienna sul Lago" wants to offer to the young girls, not just the opportunity of finding the "Prince Charming", but a romantic dream, even if this, exactly as the dreams, lasts only one night.
A romantic dream in all its details: from the place, Lake Maggiore's enchanted shores and Regina Palace Hotel's splendid nineteenth-century halls; from the Debs' dance-partners, the young cadets from the Naval Academy of Livorno; from the white and gauzy dresses for the Debs and the Full-dress Uniform for the Cadets and the smoking for the guests; from the Gala-dinner, served by the impeccable pupils of the hotel-school in Stresa and from sommeliers of Italian Association Sommeliers and so until the music played by an orchestra of thirty members, in an evening that is the only one in Italy which takes place under the High Patronage of the Mayor of the City of Vienna and which enjoys the glamorous Pleading of the Foreign Office and the Embassies of Austria to the Quirinal and the Holy See.
The idea of the Ball was born in 1993, in Vienna in the splendid Holfburg, the Royal Palace of the capital of the Austrian Empire, during the Jurist Ball in which the present President of the Organizing Committee, the Notary Claudio Limontini, took part as President of Austrian Senate's guest. But only in 1994 the idea to offer to Italian girls the same splendid opportunity begins to make real.
The first edition of the Ball took place on the 26th of October in 1995, with the participation of the Cadets from the Military Academy of Modena and immediately it was a success, repeated in the second edition and testified by the continuous presence of national televisions. From the second edition the Cavaliers become the Cadets from the Naval Academy of Livorno. From that time the Navy's Cadets accompany the Debs of Vienna sul Lago in the descent from the great staircase of Regina Palace Hotel, and for the Young Cadets the participation at the Ball is lived like a prize and a splendid formative experience: every year a cultural excursion for the Pupils is organized.
The beauty, the impeccable care of the details, the prestige of the manifestation, that can boast authoritative pleadings and that every year sends some Debs to the famous "Vienna's Opernball" ,have increased the Ball's reputation that has surpassed the regional borders swiftly, counting in the third and the fourth edition Debs from all Italy. Therefore
"Vienna sul Lago" has become, in this way ,the most important Ball in Italy and one of the most important in Europe.
Due to its institutional high-profile, Vienna sul Lago was affected by the tragic events that recently struck our Country.
The 9th edition, that took place on November 15th 2003, was suspended (and postponed to January 11th 2004), due to the Nassirya terrorist attack on November 13th 2003, in which 19 Italian people (17 military and 2 civilians) died.
The 13th edition went on his way as well: due to the terrorist attack in Afghanistan, in which an Italian soldier died, on the same day of the Great Ball, it went off quietly and without the Cadets who were in mourning. The event took place as well in order not to fail to comply with the recipients’ expectations of the Ball.
All this without forgetting the charitable aim: every year the evening's collected amount is devolved for beneficence. The first year for the Caritas (1995), then AISM (1996), afterwards ANFFAS (1997), the Institution don Gnocchi of Milano (1998), the Institution IDEA of Milano (1999); again the Institution IDEA of Milano and the Sacred Military Costantiniano Order of Saint George (2000).
Moreover "Vienna sul Lago" wants to be vehicle of friendship between Italy and Austria and between girls and boys from all Italy, that have the possibility, not only to know each other and to live an experience in common, but also to realize their own dream.
The first edition of the Ball took place on the 26th of October in 1995, with the participation of the Cadets from the Military Academy of Modena and immediately it was a success, repeated in the second edition and testified by the continuous presence of national televisions. From the second edition the Cavaliers become the Cadets from the Naval Academy of Livorno. From that time the Navy's Cadets accompany the Debs of Vienna sul Lago in the descent from the great staircase of Regina Palace Hotel, and for the Young Cadets the participation at the Ball is lived like a prize and a splendid formative experience: every year a cultural excursion for the Pupils is organized.
The beauty, the impeccable care of the details, the prestige of the manifestation, that can boast authoritative pleadings and that every year sends some Debs to the famous "Vienna's Opernball" ,have increased the Ball's reputation that has surpassed the regional borders swiftly, counting in the third and the fourth edition Debs from all Italy. Therefore
"Vienna sul Lago" has become, in this way ,the most important Ball in Italy and one of the most important in Europe.
Due to its institutional high-profile, Vienna sul Lago was affected by the tragic events that recently struck our Country.
The 9th edition, that took place on November 15th 2003, was suspended (and postponed to January 11th 2004), due to the Nassirya terrorist attack on November 13th 2003, in which 19 Italian people (17 military and 2 civilians) died.
The 13th edition went on his way as well: due to the terrorist attack in Afghanistan, in which an Italian soldier died, on the same day of the Great Ball, it went off quietly and without the Cadets who were in mourning. The event took place as well in order not to fail to comply with the recipients’ expectations of the Ball.
All this without forgetting the charitable aim: every year the evening's collected amount is devolved for beneficence. The first year for the Caritas (1995), then AISM (1996), afterwards ANFFAS (1997), the Institution don Gnocchi of Milano (1998), the Institution IDEA of Milano (1999); again the Institution IDEA of Milano and the Sacred Military Costantiniano Order of Saint George (2000).
Moreover "Vienna sul Lago" wants to be vehicle of friendship between Italy and Austria and between girls and boys from all Italy, that have the possibility, not only to know each other and to live an experience in common, but also to realize their own dream.
