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The wearing of Mardi Gras masks has been a tradition since the early 18th century.
The French that settled in New Orleans, La., had lavish private masked balls as early
as 1718. The practice of masking dates all the back to the European celebrations of
carnival, and could even have its roots in pagan celebrations of Rome.
In the late 19th century, street masking was seen as a diversion of poor and African
American people. Women who disguised themselves with masks and costumes were
seen with a questionable reputation.
In days of old, peasants went from farm to farm begging for food. The mask kept
their identity secret, so they could keep their dignity. In some parts of Louisiana that
were settled by the French, they still have today, what is called, Courir du Mardi Gras,
french for Running of the Mardi Gras. A group gathers, wearing Mardi Gras masks
and usually on horseback, and goes from house to house singing, dancing and begging for food for the night’s meal. (The houses are selected in advance and expecting them). When they have all their ingredients, they parade down town to where the Gumbo will be cooked and eaten by all who arrive.
One of the most recognizable traditions of carnival is the wearing of Mardi Gras masks.
The mask is to keep your identity hidden and lets all social expectations be suspended
for that time. The central elements of Mardi Gras, after all, include satire, mockery, and breaking from tradition. Since carnival can be irreverent and have lots of shocking behavior, the Mardi Gras mask allows everyone to be faceless and nameless, and act in ways that would normally be inappropriate.
At today’s carnival, Mardi Gras mask and costumes allow a reveler to transcend their every day life, and become someone else for a day. It is a large part of the magic and essential to the krewes. Some krewes consider removing you Mardi Gras mask during a parade grounds for immediate dismissal from the krewe.
Mardi gras mask have a history and life of their own. The history is, they have been
used at carnival for a very long time to hide someone’s identity and help him keep his dignity. The life comes in, in how the Mardi Gras mask has evolved. What used to be a cover for your face is now a way to show whom you want to be for the day, or the hour, that you wear it. The Mardi Gras mask can be made of many different materials. Porcelain or ceramic is very popular with the Mardi Gras mask made for decorating. They can also be made of plastic or wood. Some cover the whole face, some just cover the eyes, and some cover the whole head. You can find small Mardi Gras masks on beads and earring, and sometimes large Mardi Gras masks on beads and scepters. If you want beautiful, delicate, plain, lavish, or just for fun, there is nothing to compare with Mardi Gras Masks.
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