A masquerade ceremony (or masked rite, festival, procession or dance) is a cultural or religious event involving the wearing of masks. The practice has been seen throughout history from the prehistoric era to present day. They have a variety of themes. Their meanings can range from anything including life, death, and fertility. In the Dogon religion, the traditional beliefs of the Dogon people of Mali, there are several mask dances, including the Sigi festival.^[1][2] The Sigi entered the Guinness Book of Records as the "Longest religious ceremony".^[3]

Among other examples are West African and African diaspora masquerades such as Egungun masquerades, Eyo masquerades, Northern Edo masquerades, the Omabe festival of Nsukka, the Akatakpa festival of Obollo-Afor, Caribbean Carnival (which is called "Mas"), and Jonkonnu.

History

There has been evidence of masks linked to rituals since the Neolithic era. Some of the earliest masks are from the Southern Levantine dated to the mid-ninth and eighth millennia BC. These masks were located amongst various artifacts linked to ancient ceremonies. Items found include modeled skulls, gypsum, beads of wood, textiles, flint, basketry, bone, anthropomorphic, and zoomorphic figurines. Figurines also included miniature stone masks that represent what masks, made of organic materials, possibly resembled. Most masks from that era were made of less durable materials like wood, fibers, textiles, and feathers. Because of this, they were lost to time. Masks made of longer lasting material are rare leaving mostly these miscellaneous articles. Archaeologists concur with the use of masks in religious ceremonies but because of their rarity, they are unable to study masks further to uphold their preservation. Archaeologists have also recovered cave marking depictions that show cranes with human legs but other birds anatomically correct. Experts have linked these depictions to prehistoric masked ceremonies. ^[4]

In Religion

Multiple cultures and religions throughout history have used masks as an important staple of their ceremonies or rites. The Dogon believe their masks are the connection from this world and the celestial. They believe the masks, through dance, link them to the divine. In their religion, living beings such as trees, plants, and creatures are occupied by spirits. These spirits are held in high regard and the Dogon offer blood sacrifices to prevent reprisal when these materials are used to make masks. The Dogon have over 70 masks representing animals and mythical beings.^[5]

The Yoruba are another African group from southwestern Nigeria. They celebrate Gélédé, a masquerade ceremony commemorating the importance of women. To the Yoruba, Gélédé is meant to honor their ancestors, earthly spirits, and their earth goddess.^[6]

In Slavic cultures, Svyatki was celebrated. An old pagan holiday with christian roots where masks were used to hide the wearers’ identity. Svyatki is also a holiday intended to worship a sun deity and the Virgin Mary. It was typical for participants of this holiday to “Christmas dress.” Christmas dressing involved cross-dressing, turning clothes inside out, or dressing as a monster or animal. The participant would soil their clothes with dirt, paint, or blood, as a representation of the evil of the world. The masks and costumes served as a symbology of sinning or sinners. They would then be baptized, cleaning themselves in reservoirs would symbolically wash away their portrayed characters sins. ^[7]

These cultures use masks to further connect themselves with the traditions of their ancestors and serve symbolically in many aspects of their religions.

Masks

Masks used in masquerade ceremonies vary from culture, ceremony, and point in history. Some of the oldest masks found in the Neolithic period are much older than the invention of writing.^[8] Pictographs traced to be older than twenty-five thousand years old show humans wearing masks of animals but unfortunately, like many other masks from this era, these masks were believed to be made of bio-gradable material and unable to stand the test of time.^[9] Masks for current ceremonies include those of the Dogon Tribe. The Dogon Masks are made of wood. They depict antelopes, hunters, ostrich, hornbills, and some carry a “double cross” representing the hands of god.^[10]

Modern times

As ancient of a tradition that masquerading is, it can still be seen today in nearly every culture. Hiding one’s identity behind a mask has transcended time. Today, Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico. It’s a celebration of remembrance of the living’s departed loved ones. It’s celebrated with close family, involving the decorating of their tombs with photos, flowers, and offerings such as food, liquor, and cigars.^[11] People dress with make-up, costumes, and animal masks used to symbolize the nine levels of the underworld, known in Mexico as Mictlan.^[12] South of Mexico, in Brazil, Carnival is celebrated in the beginning of March. The celebration of Carnival allows the people of Brazil to freely express themselves through all kinds of costumes, representing anything from their aspirations to fantasies. ^[13]