Throughout the world masks are used for their expressive power as a feature of masked performance – both ritually and in various theater traditions. Masks are a familiar and vivid element in many folk and traditional pageants, ceremonies, rituals and festivals, and are often of an ancient origin.
The mask is normally a part of a costume that adorns the whole body and embodies a tradition important to the religious and/or social life of the community as whole or a particular group within the community. Masks are used almost universally and maintain their power and mystery both for their wearers and their audience.The continued popularity of wearing masks at carnival, and for children at parties and for festivals such as Halloween are good examples. Nowadays these are usually mass-produced plastic masks, often associated with popular films, TV programmers or cartoon characters – they are, however, reminders of the enduring power of pretense and play and the power and appeal of masks.
In this blog, I will present you with 10 Ritual masks collected throughout the world. The function of this kind of masks may be magical or religious; they may appear in rites of passage or as a make-up for a form of theater. Equally masks may disguise a penitent or preside over important ceremonies; they may help mediate with spirits, or offer a protective role to the society who utilize their powers. Those masks are mostly used in Africa, Oceania, North America, Latin America,India, China, Korea, Japan.
Resource : wiki,