European Masks

Europe Masks can be traced back many centuries. Our ancestors seem to overshadow the power to know the story before writing. These traditions and links to shamanism could pre date all our knowledge of history. Masks of one form or another, is to be found in our three most powerful historical cultural times and areas of Egypt, Greece and Rome

To access some of our earliest European mask we need to visit France. In France, Troisinhabited Freres, the caves of Paleolithic people hunting scenes painted on the walls with masked dancers. The old man keeps at least 25,000 years. The central figure in one of the scenes shows a shaman character bear's head and horns of a deer in the middle of reindeer, bison, deer, horses and ibex. The link with the traditions of masquerade can now be done through the use of horns, fur, feathers and animal forms adopted.

Greece used the cult of DionysusThe masks represent the spirits of nature spirits and give them to the carrier. golden masks dark faces of the dead have been excavated in Mycenae. Masks in greek theater actors used to represent different characters. This tradition has been carried out in the Roman theater. In sacred medieval masks were used to draw characters. Devil masks and carnival as the other countries are used today in Spain, France, Italy and others.

In the UK there aretraditional masked animals, the various forms of exploitation workhorse as a priority. This is Lands End, Bwca Lwyd be seen in Wales, Thanet in Kent, and between 30 April and 3 May in Minehead in Somerset. Some of these festivals are related to Morris dancing. The Morris Dance, in some versions, is an animal-masked fool who entertains the spectators with tricks. The ghost like Mari Lwyd in Glamorganshire stands in stark contrast with the other colorful traditions. These spectralbeen a hobby horse, the horse of the feast of Irish Samain where the ancient Celtic festival is in a white robe carrying a horse's head man raw LED, placed on the connection.

An unusual event is the dance of the Horn of Abbots Bromley in Staffordshire. Six pairs of dancers each carry a wooden deer head with antlers attached. A hobby horse and other characters are supported.

Another variety of the masked character common British folk festivals is associated with agricultural cycles.notable ones are the Bury man, West Lothian, who wears a hat and a balaclava planted with roses, and the straw man dress that appears in Whitby on Saturday before Monday Plough. Similar straw clad these values are known in Ireland. It 'possible that The Green Man ancient Britain is in no way associated with these celebrations.

Eastern Europe

Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Poland have masquerade traditions which use animalistic and figurative interpretations ofFaces.

Horribly masked characters blowing horns parading through the streets of cities like Hungary Fejer are not uncommon. This particular festival uses cloth masks with untidy beards and eyebrows worn under felt hats streaming with ribbons. Carved female masks are also worn.

Similar celebrations are in Maramures, where you see the noisy processions take place in winter, along with other towns and villages. Here shaggy devil masks with horns are worn along with somePanels as War gas masks.

In Poland, Turon another winter festival, is celebrated by villagers in several areas. The festival takes its name from the Turonian, a fantastic creature of mythology, which now appears as a hobby horse with the carrier? The appointing body covered with a cloth. Celebrations villagers take them from house to house singing songs and receiving refreshments. other forms, view bears, goats and wolves, are common.

Bulgarian New Year toosimilar animal mask. An agricultural event is traced to the ancient Thracian. On the first Sunday before Lent, groups of people such as domestic and wild animals leap noisily through the streets to frighten, to put the old year and evil forces. The cloth masks are made of fur, feathers, hemp and decorate them with discs made of metal. Other masks to wear masks representing the horned oxen.

In Greece similar festivities in Thrace with the dance Kalogheroi to be seen.

Morehighlight areas of Europe are Schemenlaufen in Imst in Austria, where frightening masks and noisy bells used for evil spirits. Italy has several rural masquerades and is famous for the Commedia dell Arte, in which Harlequin and the buffoon, Pulcinella, origin. There are also the Venetian carnival masks are of the seventeenth century, with links to previous times. In Spain caps worn by penitents during Holy Week and the dance represents the battle Moriscabetween Muslims and Christians. The Morisca had an influence on the festivals of other areas in particular where sword dances are performed.

Inspired by the Art of Expression and masks. John Mack ISBN 0-7141-2530-X and other sources I have read and internalized long ago.

Would you like regular masking the World?

© Ian Bracegirdle 2004 1 Elderberry Close East Morton BD20 5WA UK 01535692207

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