Halloween Experts

Masks have been used for protection, disguise, religious ceremony, sign of rank, punishment, and entertainment since the Stone Age.

Ancient Egyptians used masks in their burial ceremonies, often painted gold and adorned with gems. The death masks were believed to be imbued with spells that would protect the deceased on the trip to the spirit world.

In Asia, masks were influenced by Hindu, Buddhist, and Indian tradition and were used in both religious ceremonies and in traditional theater. Japan’s ancient art form of Kabuki combines dance and theater. The performers wear elaborately painted masks to represent specific characters.

The Comedy and Tragedy masks that have come to symbolize theater, were developed by ancient Greeks for both religious and theatrical purposes. The masked fool was also introduced by the Greeks. This character would distract and entertain children in the audience to keep them from disrupting the performance.

Native American cultures used masks not only for religious ceremonies, but also for medicinal purposes. Some tribes also used masks for entertainment.

During the Middle Ages, masks, called “branks” were often used as punishment for crimes committed. A man who mistreated a woman might be forced to wear a metal “swine mask”. A student who failed to learn might be required to wear the “hood of shame”. A woman could be forced to wear a mask if she was a nag or a gossip. The masks had to be worn on public display, and sometimes contained a sort of bit in the mouth that made talking painful.

The association of masks with Halloween began in the Celtic celebration of Samhain. During this festival, humans would wear masks to confuse the spirits of the dead who were thought to walk the earth at this time of year. Frightening masks were worn in an attempt to scare away malicious spirits.