Cindy Stone, age 15, of Pittsfield, Mass., for her question:
WHO WERE THE FIRST TO WEAR MASKS?
Masks were used to cover faces long before there was a recorded history. Ancient people probably wore masks not only to hide the identity of the wearer but also to give him special magical powers.
The custom of wearing masks probably started with animal heads worn by people. Such masks may have been used in hunting. They probably served as disguises and also as magic symbols to make the hunt successful.
Some historians suggest that the custom of wearing masks may have developed from the practice of marking the face with colorful designs that had magic powers.
Ceremonial masks developed from the belief of many primitive societies that gods controlled the forces of nature. Dancers at various ceremonies wore masks that represented these gods. A mask made its wearer unrecognizable and so he seemed to almost lose his identity and become the spirit itself.
When ceremonial dancers wore such masks, the people believed that the gods were actually present. If people wore a mask that represented a certain spirit, the powers of that spirit supposedly remained for many generations.
Many Indian tribes of North America used masks in their ceremonies. Iroquois Indians wore wooden masks at ceremonies held to heal the sick.
Some peoples in New Guinea, West Africa, the Amazon region of South America and the southwestern United States still use masks in spiritual ceremonies. The Hopi Indians of Arizona, for example, have special ceremonies in which the male dancers wear masks that represent their ancestors or certain gods.
The ancient Greeks used masks in their classical drama, which developed from religious ceremonies of earlier times. Masked performers represented mythological heroes and gods.
Theatrical masks of ancient people were used to express anger, joy, love and other emotions. These masks were needed to tell the audiences about the action of the play. The theaters of ancient Greece were so large that many people could not see the facial expression of the actors.
Since ancient times, Chinese drama has used masks to help portray types of characters. The color of the mask plays an important part in the drama. Red was used to represent a loyal person while white represents a cruel one.
Burial and death masks also had important roles. The ancient Egyptians put a personalized mask over the face of every mummy, or they made the mask part of the mummy case. The mask supposedly identified the dead person so that the wandering soul could always find its own body.
There are also other types of masks. Welders, for example, wear steel masks with special lenses that protect their eyes from the intense light produced by welding. And doctors wear masks for medical reasons while Halloween and masquerade masks are worn for fun.