As Halloween approaches, party costume revelers know that costume masks are not just for festivals or Carnival. Costume masks are an integral component of any scary Halloween costumes. As a form of expressive power of commemorating All Saints' Day Eve, thousands of people don their favorite monster masks such as cryptic cadavers skull masks, scary Halloween masks and masquerade masks.
Indeed, throughout human history, people have used masks as part of ceremonial outfits to celebrate a variety of religious or spiritual festivals. The exact origins of wearing masks in ceremonies are unknown; but masks have been worn by religious celebrants as well as spiritual and pagan observers. In Africa, masks are carved with extraordinary skill from a variety of materials including wood, copper, brass and iron, and are used for various functions such as the ritual ceremonies to communicate with the spirits.
In Europe masks are worn in carnival, a festive occasion which occurs immediately before lent. In carnival, celebrants dress up in colorful costumes and masks, and they masquerade in their chosen characters during the celebrations in public street parties. Street parties and parades have the elements of a circus, with people masquerading in costumes and masks.
In Asia, masks are worn during various ceremonies, including Shamanism wherein the Shamans intercede on behalf of humans and communicate with the spirits of the underworld. And, because certain animals are viewed as gods, it is not uncommon to see monstrous heads on Hindu and Buddhist temples. These monstrous masks on temples are intended to ward off evil.
In Christianity, Halloween is associated with the All Hallow Even, better known as All Saints' Day that is celebrated on October 31. For nonreligious believers, Halloween can be traced to the Celtic cultural celebration of a harvest festival. Although the harvest festival has the elements of a festival of the dead, it is a holiday celebration between October 1 and November 1, to celebrate the end of Summer and the harvest of crops. Some religious believers hold that Halloween is a pagan festival, and such believers do not usually permit their children to wear Halloween costume masks and to participate in the trick or treat celebration.
For most people, however, Halloween is largely a secular celebration, and a time for costume parties, wearing Halloween masks and hiding their identities behind silly mask or scarecrow masks, and a time to for children to tell scary stories, pumpkin carving and the famous carving of Jack-o' lantern.
As Halloween has become largely commercialized, merchants play their part in ensuring that families have all the Halloween props, Halloween costume masks, monster costumes and costume party supplies to make the Halloween celebration a memorable festival for their kids, friends and loved ones.
For children, Halloween provides them a chance to play their favorite monster characters in monster costume masks such as Dracula, Frankenstein or Michael Jackson Thriller costumes.
Simply stated, Halloween costume masks make costume parties come alive.
Remie Chikasu is an Internet Publisher and author of online articles on costumes and Halloween costumes, and is the founder of Monster Madness Costumes. Remie writes on different subjects and topical matters of interest, including product reviews on health, fitness, and weight loss products and internet marketing. For more information, visit at: http://www.monstermadnesscostumes.com.
If you are thinking of hosting a costume party but you are still unsure where to begin searching for costume masks, visit at:
Monster Madness Costumes Website for further information.
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