Disguising one’s identity with elaborately painted masks was a significant part of the late 13th Century. Venice was the birthplace of the masquerade and the masks played a central role in society. Beginning on the day of Santo Stefano and ending at midnight of Shrove Tuesday, citizens of Venice would dress in fanciful outfits and eloquent masks to join together in celebration. As masquerade masks became increasingly popular, the mask-makers soon took up their own space in society and became members of a guild.
This became a yearly festival of the city and a whole range of masquerades took place revolving around stories of love, marriage and triumph. The Venetian youth would dress in costumes and masks and entertain the upper classes during the Venetian Carnival. Masquerade balls and elegant dinners were all part of the entertainment. Jugglers, acrobats and traveling exhibits took over the piazza and performed for the public. The sense of the unknown and the disguised allowed for everyone to come together and put aside the social standards of the time. It was a way to rid the individual of his identity so that he can act as he wishes.
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The story of the masquerade mask and the festivities, however, is not as optimistic as it seems. The earliest record of the Carnival of Venice dates back to 1268 and reveals a sense of opposition towards it. The festival of masks was a way for both the lower and uppers classes to hide their identities in order to freely participate in self-indulgent activities and mingle with the general public. From romantic encounters to murderous crimes, the streets of Venice became subversive and uncontrollable.
Venetians lived in a repressive environment during the Medieval Era, when the wearing of masks began to hold ground. As a result, the Catholic Church went through great lengths to outlaw the masquerades by establishing laws and regulations. The Church failed in banning the processions and eventually accepted the celebrations. The Catholic Church allocated a certain time period for the celebrations in accordance with religious holidays.
The months between Christmas and Shrove Tuesday were dedicated to the masquerades and eventually paved way for Carnevale. Carnevale was associated with pre-Lent traditions and the cleansing of evil spirits.
Masquerade balls and the entire culture surrounding the wearing of masks expanded to other parts of Europe, including England. The masquerades were generally held for the nobility in other parts of the continent. They enjoyed games held during the masquerade balls where guests had the opportunity to reveal each others’ identities.
The masquerade and all its glory began to lose ground during the 18th century. Venice fell under the rule of the Austrians and the celebrations eventually came to an end. It wasn’t until the late 20th century that the Carnival experienced a revival and people began to wear masquerade masks all over again. Since then, masquerade masks have become part of the artistic and craft-making culture of Italy as well as other countries. Aside from Venetian masks, there are also Mardi Gras and Harlequin masks. The masquerade mask is not only a historic and traditional part of culture but it is also a tourist attraction in modern times.
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Sexy red feather masquerade masks for sale. Match your mask to your outfit with these sexy red feathered masks. Great for Mardi Gras, Carnival, masquerade parties, or for feeling sexy around the house. Clicking the links below will open a new window in your browser with a full description of the red feather masquerade masks for sale on eBay.
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Beautiful blue feather masquerade masks for sale. Exotic looking blue feather masks are great for Mardi Gras, Carnival, or a masquerade party. Clicking the links below will open a new window in your browser with a full description of the Blue Masquerade Mask for sale on eBay.
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Mardi Gras Masks: Celebrations in Disguise
Mardi Gras is a pre-Lent festival that celebrates humanity in disguise on the international level. From Europe to the Caribbean and the United States to Canada, Mardi Gras is a day of celebration right before Shrove Tuesday, or Ash Wednesday. The earliest accounts of Mardi Gras took place during the 14th and 15th century in Europe.
Mardi Gras is actually a Catholic Holiday which has evolved to bigger celebrations and festivities in various parts of the world. It is quite similar to the Carnival in Venice except that it does not extend over a few months. Mardi Gras is distinct for its colorful decorations and lively spirits. The Mardi Gras mask is a symbolic and significant feature of the entire celebration.
Mardi Gras is widely recognized as a large scale festival in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mardi Gras was introduced to the United States by the French in the city of New Orleans in 1699. The French explorers arrived to town during the holiday and began to celebrate according to tradition. They wore masks in the streets and participated in processions. Over time, New Orleans became influenced by Hispanic versions of the festival but never lost the French essence.
Masks are a central feature of Mardi Gras and are worn during masked balls, street parades and night time parties. They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors. Mardi Gras masks tend to have some influence of Venetian half-face masks that are adorned in gems, feathers and brightly colored paint.
The idea of identity is a major theme during Mardi Gras and other similar celebrations. It is a way of concealing ones identity from friends and neighbors in order to freely participate in all sorts of activities. Mischievous behavior has been a long standing aspect of Mardi Gras and the mask helps cover the identity of such individuals. Masks are worn by Krewe members, tourists, and citizens of the city during the last hours of Fat Tuesday. It is a way of self-indulging into acts that are normally against the standard. Wearing the masks and being part of the festival embodies the idea of letting go of the flesh before Lent begins.
Wearing masks during celebrations, festivals and even rituals is a significant part of many cultures across the world. Mardi Gras masks and other types of masks are tied to pre-Christian practices and traditions in various countries. It is tied to religious practices that involve spiritual performances where the performers must communicate with the spirits. Often times, these masks are worn to get rid of evil spirits. While masquerades and other masked events have always been tied to religious practices, the nature of these celebrations has changed in modern and contemporary life.
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Glowing gold masquerade masks for sale. Each fantastic masquerade mask is distinct in shape and style, and it is common to match the color of your mask with the rest of your costume or clothing. Find the perfect gold mask to wear during Mardi Gras, Carnival, or a masquerade party by browsing the many types of gold masks below. Clicking the links below will open a new window in your browser with a full description of the Gold Masquerade Mask for sale on eBay.
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The Story of Venetian Masks
The masquerade mask of Venice is the cultural symbol of the city. Travelers now flood the piazzas and canals of Venice searching for the mystical culture that once filled the air. These expressive and decorative masks are part of an entire festival that holds strong historic ground. The story of Venetian Masks dates back to the 13th century and has recently revealed a revival of the tradition.
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Venetian Masks on eBay
The medieval court life of Venice strongly embraced a series of processions and festivals. Masquerade balls were one of these celebrations that were originally intended for the upper classes. Over time, these masquerade balls entered the public realm and allowed members of the lower class to disguise themselves as well. The nobility also enjoyed the aspect of hiding their identities. This allowed them to participate in promiscuity, decadence and all sorts of activities that were against the rules. In turn, the lower classes were able to disguise themselves and be free from the social stigmas of the time.
Soon, this sort of behavior became unacceptable for the Catholic Church. The Church attempted to ban the processions and festivals on numerous accounts by implementing regulations and passing strict laws against certain behavior. However, the wealthy class of Venice had enough influential power to persuade the Church in accepting the celebrations. As a result, the days between Christmas and Ash Wednesday, or Shrove Tuesday, were dedicated to the festivals and the entire city of Venice was covered with people disguised in masks.
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Venetian Masks on eBay
The festival was also known as the Venetian Carnival and it had a great impact on the lives of people. A celebration of hedonism was at its best during this time and people acted with liberty as much as possible. Sooner or later, people began to wear masks on days outside of the months that were prescribed by the Church. The aristocracy took advantage of the inability to distinguish one person from the other. They continued to go against the moral and political standards of the time and participated in unlawful affairs. Being anonymous had its benefits and the celebrations and entertainment were difficult to oppose by the majority of people.
The masquerades were the most popular between the 15th and 16th century. Young venetians would gather and wear specific outfits and cover their faces with masks in order to perform in shows and entertain viewers during the Carnival of Venice. These performances were based on religious, political and marital stories. They were entertaining for the nobility and allowed a sense of relief from the oppressive powers of the Church for the general public.
The splendor and fun came to an end during the 18th century when the Venetian Republic began to decline. The tradition of masquerading and wearing masks dwindled as a result. Both the Austrian government and the fascist government of the early 20th century banned the Carnival. The modern era in the late 20th century witnessed a restoration of the excitement and whimsical nature of Venetian masks and masquerades. Now, tourists and Venetians alike can participate in Carnival and become part of the lively culture that surrounds the historic and traditional symbolism of the Venetian Mask.
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Every masquerade mask is distinct in shape and style, and it is common to match the color of your mask with the rest of your costume or clothing. Find the perfect black mask to wear during Mardi Gras, Carnival, or a masquerade party by browsing the many types of black feather masks below.
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Find the perfect pink masquerade mask for sale. Each fantastic masquerade mask is distinct in shape and style, and it is common to match the color of your mask with the rest of your costume or clothing. Find the perfect gold mask to wear during Mardi Gras, Carnival, or a masquerade party by browsing the many types of gold masks below. Clicking the links below will open a new window in your browser with a full description of the Pink Masquerade Mask for sale on eBay.
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Gorgeous white masquerade masks for sale. Pure and innocent looking white masquerade party masks are great for Mardi Gras, Carnival, or any masquerade party. Clicking the links below will open a new window in your browser with a full description of the white masquerade mask for sale on eBay.
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The thrill and excitement of a masquerade party lies in the costumes and masks that individual’s wear. There is a sense of mystery that lurks in a masquerade full of disguised people. The most famous masquerade festivals known in history include the Venetian Carnival as well as Mardi Gras. These take place during specific times of the year and are tied to distinct traditions of culture.
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