The Best Masquerade Masks

Our Top Masquerade Party Mask

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A masquerade mask party can be trully entertaining if planned correctly. Not to say that planning one is difficult, but to be a success it requires more discipline than any other type of party.

The idea behind a masquerade mask party is to have all invitees wear masks to cover most of their faces. However not any mask will do. The party needs to have a particular theme in order to be a true masquerade. The original masquerade mask party theme is The Renaissance, mainly because masquerade balls originated in France during this time period. The masks used at the time were attached to handles which the wearers needed to hold in their hands to keep the masks over their faces. This changed quickly though when straps were added that held the mask over the wearer’s head and no longer required the user’s hands. “Hands-free” masks opened new doors for masquerade mask parties.

Once the theme has been chosen, the purpose and entertainment come next. Just as in any party, the host needs to determine what sources of entertainment will be avaliable for guests. But a key thing to remember is that the guests will be hiding their faces. This is important to keep in mind because some individuals may feel uncomfortable discussing a subject with others or performing certain acts, unless covered by a disguise. Subjects that may be commonly considered as taboo are no longer awkward. Nowadays, masquerade mask parties of sexual nature are common because men and women seem to associate a face with sex. But when the face is replaced by an array of masks, the association is lost, and therefore in most cases a person may perform with more than one partner without feeling constrained. It is the comfort of the mask that enables the guest to open up to experiences which would otherwise be considered inappropriate.

This is not to say that a masquerade mask party is of sexual nature. Another example of how a mask may comfort the guest is subjects of conversation. A person is more prone to engage in a discussion about a subject otherwise restrictive if his or her identity is concealed. This is one of the reasons why people enjoy masquerade mask parties.

The next key element to plan a successful masquerade mask party is to determine the number of guests. A large number of guests wearing masks may prove to be troublesome if the purpose of the party is to socialize with a particular group. However, if the intent is to break the ice and encourage guests to open up, the more invitees the better.

And last but not least, notify your guests not to remove the masks.

Our Top Decorative Masquerade Mask

Created in Italy, Masquerade masks were created as a diversion for townspeople during festival season. It was soon apparent to noblemen and women that they could mingle with the commoners during festival season. In old Italy, the law stated that the two classes could not mingle and doing so would be punishable by law.

Festivals were held frequently throughout the year, and when festival time came, both commoners and noble people would create their own costumes and masks each reflecting the personality of its creator. Masquerade masks allowed noblemen and even clergymen to interact with commoners and many took advantage of common women and get political information out of common men. This gave the nobles a great advantage. Less scrupulous clergymen would also take advantage of common women and they would never know the difference.

Noble men and women found that they could walk among common people without fear of recognition or reprisal. They looked forward to gathering information that could be used against their political rivals.

A masquerade mask could be as plain or elaborate as the person designing it wanted, and was usually made of whatever materials were available at the time. Beads, ribbons, and feathers were usually plentiful and vibrant colorful masks could always be expected. Although created in Italy, the idea of masquerade mask quickly spread throughout the world. They became the icon of many different festivals in hundreds of countries. The masks were always creative and worn proudly.

There have been many festivals throughout history that depicted these masks, however the most well known has become Mardis Gras. The elaborate masks are still worn today, and in the tradition of old Italy, even the most recognizable stars and even royalty mingle on the streets of New Orleans without being recognized.

Halloween is a holiday that has a very long history. It original started out as a festival that was held once a year. Although it is now a holiday for children, it’s original state was far different then today; the festival was strictly for adults only.

Masks were hand created out of ceramic, wood and even bone. The colors often brilliant and vibrant. The masks of today generation are mass-produced and generic. They are usually based on very recognizable characters that entertain children all over the world.

Festivals and masks have always gone hand in hand. They are a way of expressing each individual personality. There are some people who still create their own masks, letting their imaginations run wild.