Fresh and Vivid Mardis Gras Masks For New Orleans
Roy Thomsitt
November 21, 2007
When you hear the phrase "Mardi Gras," flamboyant parades and wild street parties probably are the first images in your head. The floats organized by Krewes, or exclusive societies of New Orleans' locals, may be the jewels in the crown of these parades, but anyone from anywhere who comes to New Orleans to experience Mardi Gras are essentials to the parade as well. This is why masks of all shapes, colors and sizes are in such high demand at the start of every year, in time for the celebrations that begin sometime between February and March.
Even if you are not a New Orleans native, everyone is invited to the carnival on the streets. Whether or not you come in a flamboyant costume, wearing a mask will ensure that you will blend right in with everyone else. There are no strangers at the Mardi Gras when everyone's a mystery and wearing a mask is one of the best parts of the Mardi Gras experience.
There are sure to be masks of all sorts and designs. Even in disguise, everyone would want to stand out in the crowd, and what a great crowd it usually is! You'll see masks worn around the head, some full masks with elastics on the sides around the ears, or half masks that only cover the eyes, as Zorro and Robin the boy wonder would wear them, or papier mache masks attached to sticks in both sizes. Whichever way you choose to wear your mask, the more important consideration is what the mask is going to look like.
Lots of New Orleans natives make their own masks. They just buy plain masks, either very basic black felt masks or plain silver or gold glitter masks, or masks made of canvas, or unpainted papier mache mask casts. These masks are repainted in various designs. Additionally, you can glue on colorful feathers, sequins, and even the traditional Mardi Gras beads stuck on per piece or attached by the string. Stores are teeming with masks of all kinds; mask makers usually avoid doing the same design in bulk to limit the chances of look-alike masks on the streets and in masquerade parties.
Feathered mask designs abound for the 2008 Mardi Gras, with some special feather masks with lining that lights up in the dark. For those who like to shine naturally, there are several neon and metallic masks that are available, and even sequined masks with shiny veils that start from beneath the eyes to right above the chest. The popular mask designs for 2008 are black and gold sequined masks, which are tres chic for black tie costume balls.
Even before the first Mardi Gras parades, Mardi Gras was celebrated in Louisiana in the early 1700s as masquerade balls, as they were held in European ballrooms. There was a lot of dancing, food and wine, but all attendants wore masks and hid their identities from each other. This tradition is still practiced today, with exclusive black tie parties where the mask is even more important than your designer gown.
This is one of the attractions of mask wearing at present day Mardi Gras celebrations, to party with complete strangers, or supposed strangers who turn out to be people you've known all your life. So when you come to New Orleans for the Mardi Gras, don't forget your mask! You never know who you are going to meet. The Mardis Gras mask is what the event is all about: it is a key part of the Mardis Gras history and traditions.
Even if you are not a New Orleans native, everyone is invited to the carnival on the streets. Whether or not you come in a flamboyant costume, wearing a mask will ensure that you will blend right in with everyone else. There are no strangers at the Mardi Gras when everyone's a mystery and wearing a mask is one of the best parts of the Mardi Gras experience.
There are sure to be masks of all sorts and designs. Even in disguise, everyone would want to stand out in the crowd, and what a great crowd it usually is! You'll see masks worn around the head, some full masks with elastics on the sides around the ears, or half masks that only cover the eyes, as Zorro and Robin the boy wonder would wear them, or papier mache masks attached to sticks in both sizes. Whichever way you choose to wear your mask, the more important consideration is what the mask is going to look like.
Lots of New Orleans natives make their own masks. They just buy plain masks, either very basic black felt masks or plain silver or gold glitter masks, or masks made of canvas, or unpainted papier mache mask casts. These masks are repainted in various designs. Additionally, you can glue on colorful feathers, sequins, and even the traditional Mardi Gras beads stuck on per piece or attached by the string. Stores are teeming with masks of all kinds; mask makers usually avoid doing the same design in bulk to limit the chances of look-alike masks on the streets and in masquerade parties.
Feathered mask designs abound for the 2008 Mardi Gras, with some special feather masks with lining that lights up in the dark. For those who like to shine naturally, there are several neon and metallic masks that are available, and even sequined masks with shiny veils that start from beneath the eyes to right above the chest. The popular mask designs for 2008 are black and gold sequined masks, which are tres chic for black tie costume balls.
Even before the first Mardi Gras parades, Mardi Gras was celebrated in Louisiana in the early 1700s as masquerade balls, as they were held in European ballrooms. There was a lot of dancing, food and wine, but all attendants wore masks and hid their identities from each other. This tradition is still practiced today, with exclusive black tie parties where the mask is even more important than your designer gown.
This is one of the attractions of mask wearing at present day Mardi Gras celebrations, to party with complete strangers, or supposed strangers who turn out to be people you've known all your life. So when you come to New Orleans for the Mardi Gras, don't forget your mask! You never know who you are going to meet. The Mardis Gras mask is what the event is all about: it is a key part of the Mardis Gras history and traditions.
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