Masquerade Ball Masks - Dress
In Style
Be the best looking person at a party of masks by purchasing from our stylish
collection of masquerade ball masks.
Masks have been used by almost every culture through out time. They have been worn
during the performance of rituals, during performances for entertainment, and to conceal identity. Many cultures
incorporate ritualistic face coverings into religious or magical ceremonies.
Face coverings have traditionally played an important role in theater. Most of
them dress up in mardi gras masquerade masks to look different. They pretty much look like costumes that you would
wear on halloween.
The Greeks were masters of using face coverings in theatrical performances. The
face coverings were frequently exaggerated expressions designed to underscore the story line and the character’s
role.
These masks are used in many events such as prom, the famous masked ball 2009 and
the popular renaissance masquerade masquerade parties. Medieval actors wore face coverings to portray gods or
fantastic creatures in plays. They also woree many decorations such as sticks and fancy dresses.
The use of masks continues to be an important part of modern theater. People
sometimes cover their faces to conceal their identity. Protesters, people involved in riots, and vigilante groups
have traditionally concealed their faces to avoid identification by the police or government
authorities.
Occasionally a witness against a criminal defendant will wear a disguise when
testifying in court to protect his or her identity and avoid revenge by friends or family of the
accused.
The most frequent use of masks today is the use of the masquerade ball mask. The
mask is frequently part of an overall costume theme. Elaborate masks were often used as part of marriage ceremonies
as well.
Disguises were used with regularity as regular costume at elaborate Renaissance
era dances, especially in Venice, Italy. These dances were rich affairs attended by the elite members of 16th
Century European society.
The event was staged as a game among the guests who tried to determine the
identity of other guests. Dance partners changed through out the evening and at the end of the party, the guests
removed their disguises. Disguises ranged from a simple black covering over the eyes to exquisitely designed face
coverings complete with jewels.
These gatherings later evolved to public festivals complete with pageants and
parades where the participants were disguised by ornately designed masks. When the Venetian Republic collapsed in
the last years of 1700s the tradition began to wane and eventually completely ended. Some notable events that
incorporated ornate disguises includes the Burning Men’s Ball which was a costumed ball to celebrate the marriage
of one of the ladies in waiting to the Queen of France in 1393.
The King and a few friends dressed up as wild men covered in tar to entertain the
guests. They carried torches and when some of the guests got too close to the torch they caught fire.
Such events have also been the scene of political treachery. Gustav III of Sweden
was assassinated at such an event. The most notable of these gatherings in the 20th Century was held in Venice in
1951. It was hosted by Carlos de Beistegui and billed as the party of the century.
Americans are familiar with the elaborate and often wild disguises worn during the
Fat Tuesday celebrations of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana. The State of Louisiana prohibits concealing one’s
identity in public, but for one day, Mardi Gras Day, the law is suspended and the people make merry while
disguised.
Of course, banks, credit unions, and other money exchanges and lenders close for
the day in order to avoid a potential robbery by a masked party goers. Businesses that do remain open to take
advantage of the influx of tourist dollars require people to remove their disguises before entering the
business.
Other popular masks that you can purchase for special events are the
popular venetian
masquerade masks. You can purchase them online for very low prices to wear to any special party you have in mind such
as prom.
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