The History Behind Masquerade Masks

When you think of masquerade masks you think of great celebrations

, balls, carnivals, events, parties and celebrations. They have been around for centuries and in every era people have enjoyed these mysterious pieces. The word masquerade stands for mystery and intrigue. It is meant to be when someone disguises themselves or takes the appearance of someone else.

During the Italian Renaissance they were used for balls, parties and celebrations. These celebrations were very elegant and luxurious. The people of the high society held these gatherings. While wearing the mask a person could not be recognized so they were free to talk with people that were not inside their social circle.

When it was used a lot of people did not like it because it meant the common people could mix with the wealthy. The masks were used for making deals such as financial and sexual deals. Some like this idea because they could exchange money or have an affair without anyone knowing or suspecting.

The main types of these masks include the stick mask, the head, the full face and the half face. Men and women alike wore these designs and also made the theme of what they wanted to resemble or to turn into. There were so many designs to choose from and as the masks got popular so did the quality of the art work put into them.

The four types are full face, head, half face and the stick design. The full face design covered the entire face and was very hard for the operator to function. There were two holes cut out for the eyes but only some had a mouth hole. The ones that did not have a mouth hole would leave the person behind the masks voice muffled, and the user could not eat or drink without removing the entire mask.

The head design resembled a helmet, it was worn on top of the head. This design was more elegant of a style. Many accessories could be added to enhance the look. It was difficult to eat or drink with this type of design.

The full face design covered the entire face, there were two holes cut for the eyes and occasionally there was a hole cut for the mouth. The ones with mouth holes were more functional. The persons identity was a complete mystery in this design. The only downfalls were it muffled the persons voice and they could not eat or drink while wearing it.

The stick design was informal and was used more for the occasion instead of trying to hide the persons identity. The person wearing this design had to hold the mask up to their face as the mask was on a stick. It could be removed quickly but required a hand to hold it up to the face the whole time.

Masquerade means to disguise yourself or to look as a another person, creature or thing. It also stands for mystery and intrigue. Today, these masks have become popular again. Some retailers sell the old style of the mask but the more popular type is the modern day inexpensive ones. The biggest places these can be found today are at Mardi Gras, which is a celebration in New Orleans. They can be purchased at retail stores or by online sites and professional costume shops. If wanting to enjoy a great piece of history buying one of these masquerade masks will take you back to these times of celebration.

by: Tracy Narvaez

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