European Masks

Europe Masks can be traced back several centuries. Our ancestors have the power of the group, known even before written history. These traditions and links to shamanism could have time for all our knowledge of history. Masks of one form or another can be found in our most powerful of the three historical periods and cultural areas, related to, Egypt, Greece and Rome

To access some of our European form before we need to visit France. In France, Troisinhabited Freres, the caves of the Paleolithic people hunting scenes on the walls showing masked dancers painted. It is believed that at least 25,000 years. The central figure in one of the scenes shows the head of a bear shaman character and antlers of a deer under the ', reindeer, bison, deer, horses and ibex. The tie masquerade traditions of today through the use of horns, fur, feathers and animal shapes can be made acceptable.

Greece has used the cult of Dionysusmasks to represent the spirits of nature spirits and give them to the carrier. gold funerary masks for the faces of the dead have been excavated in Mycenae. In greek theater actors used masks to show different characters. This tradition has been carried out in the Roman theater. masks used in medieval mystery plays were to draw characters. Devils and carnival masks from other countries because they are used today in Spain, France, Italy and others.

In Great Britain thereTraditional animal Masquerades which use various forms of the hobby as a priority. These are Lands End, BWCA Lwyd in Wales, Thanet in Kent to view between 30 April and 3 May in Minehead in Somerset. Some of these festivals are available at Morris dancing. The Morris Dance, was in some versions, an animal-masked fool who entertains the spectators with tricks. The mind is like Mari Lwyd in Glamorganshire is in stark contrast with the other colorful traditions. These ghostsHobby horse, the horse of the feast of Irish Samain where the ancient Celtic festival with a man dressed in a white horse's head is out of cruel associates.

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

Another type of masked characters common British folk festival is associated with agricultural cycles.Is remarkable because the man planted Bury, West Lothian, who wears a hat and a balaclava with the roses, and the man of straw dress that appears in Whitby on Saturday before the plow Monday. Similar figures of straw dress are well known in Ireland. It 'possible that The Green Man of the old Britain is connected in some way with these celebrations.

Eastern Europe

Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Poland have traditional masquerade performances that animalistic and figurative usageFaces.

horrors masked characters blowing horns parading through the streets of cities such as 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 worn.

Similar festivals are in Maramures where the noisy mid-winter fashion shows to watch along with other towns and villages have preserved. Here the devil masks with horns are worn along with some ShaggyThe panels, such as the War gas masks.

In Poland, Turon is another winter festival celebrated by villagers in several areas. The festival is for Turon, a fantastic creature of mythology, the name found today as a workhorse with the carrier? Corpse covered with a cloth. The villagers revelry takes them from home to sing Christmas carols and receiving refreshments house. other forms, view bears, goats and wolves, are common.

Bulgarian New Year toosimilar animal mask. A Festival returns to farm back to the ancient Thracian. The first Sunday before Lent large groups of people dressed as domestic and wild animals leap noisily scared through the streets of the old year and evil forces. The cloth masks are made from fur, hemp and feathers with small metal disks decorating done. Others wear masks, horned masks to represent oxen.

In Greece similar festivities can dance in Thrace with Kalogheroi seen.

OtherEuropean regions are the pride Schemenlaufen at Imst in Austria, where frightening masks and noisy bells used for evil spirits. Italy has several rural masquerades and is responsible for the Commedia dell Arte, in which Harlequin and the buffoon, Pulcinella were famous. There are also the Venetian carnival masks, dating from the seventeenth century, with links to earlier times. In Spain, conical hoods are worn penitents during Holy Week and the dance represents the battle Moriscabetween Muslims and Christians. Morisca The festival has an influence on other areas, particularly when it was performed sword dances.

Masks inspired by the art of expression ed. John Mack ISBN 0-7141-2530-X and other sources I have read and internalized long ago.

If you regularly form the world?

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

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