Monday, September 10, 2018

The historical importance of the Mardi Gras masks



The Carnival celebration that commences on or after the Three Kings Day and culminating the day before Ash Wednesday, Mardi Gras reflects the practice of feasting before the Lenten season’s fasting begin. People say that masks and Mardi Gras go hand-in-hand like jelly and peanut butter as you cannot distinguish one without the other. Adding an element of mystery, the Mardi Gras masks build a significant amount of enamour when worn, either covering the wearer’s whole face or even just the eyes. For centuries the Mardi Gras masks are worn by people of diverse societies and are used for rituals, celebrations, or even performing arts purposes. The original purpose of any Mardi Gras mask is to protect the wearer from revealing his or her identity to others. Men who used to visit door-to-door singing, dancing, and begging for offerings in pursuance of making a communal gumbo, wear these type of masks.