To be honest I love fool, because I feel I am one, at times. The fool embodies contradictions of world. He accepts our human frailties and simultaneously challenges them. For those of you who know symbols on tarot cards consider fool, for those of you who do not make some time to find out.

Some Examples of Fools in Masquerade Italy In Masks Art of expression Cesare Poppi describes Carnival at Moena in Italian Dolomites. Two Arlechign, a local version of Harlequin, lead masked group. They are dressed in chequered costumes, with a tall pointed cap below which is a loose veil giving them a featureless appearance. They carry horse whips. Around them crowd of cheering young boys follows their moves. Suddenly dash into youths slashing fiercely with horse whips, striking vicious blows to confused youngsters. Panic ensues. A pleasing village scene has suddenly been turned upon its head.

China In China, or your local China Town, when New Year is celebrated Lion Dance is performed. This often acrobatic masked dance is performed by, usually two dancers accompanied by two Happy Face dancers wearing their papier mache masks complete with large grins painted on them. As dance progresses through streets dragon collects lettuces and money to help bring luck in to New Year. Around dragon two fools pester crowd for money and simultaneously keep crowd, especially children, at a safe distance.

Pacific West Coast

Noohlmahl

During Kwakwaka'wakw Potlatch ceremonies in West Coast Areas of Canada another fool prowled around. He is Noohlmahl. A filthy creature with a long nose from which snot streams he is up for a laugh but should watchers mention his state, especially his nose, a violent reaction can be expected.

Iriquois False Face Society

The Iriquois False Face Society also have a fool mask to support processes of healing that they undertake. These corn husk mask are relatively simple and disposable. As with other traditions fool plays his amusing and organising role.

Playfulness has a major place in many masquerades.

In our lives we all play fool, despise fool in others and love fool who entertains. Sadly fool who entertains can also be torn apart by internal mental divisions.

The masked fool is one who maintains order and at same time questions it and sometimes on a whim destroys it. Traditionally fool treads a fine line between known and unknown, acceptable and unacceptable. Even without mask I am sure you recognise fool in your life.

The fool is a universal being. Today (15/12/04) I lost my fool, she was our cat. If you wish to know she died of old age. She had soft luxury of a purring fur to stroke and in a moment she transformed into a fanged biter. She had gourmet taste of a French chef yet licked her own arse. She refused to go outside when wind blew, because it was cold, yet sat happily on wet grass when it was raining and blowing a gale. Tango, cat, was my fool, just as I was hers when playing hide and seek. I loved her affection and was saddened by her rejection of food I gave her. All in all Tango, our family cat, was all contradiction and beautifully herself. She is a very missed little being.

Footnote

Cecil Sharp collected folk sings in British Isles. Amongst folk enthusiasts he is something of a hero as he preserved may folk songs and traditions. He was instumental in helping preserve hundreds of different Morris dances. Yet as with song lyrics he collected they were purged for naughty bits. Anything that went against his strict Victorian morality was censored. The whole of British folk tradition was made "nice".

Inspired by Masks Art of Expression ed. John Mack ISBN 0-7141-2530-X and other sources that I have read and internalised long ago.

© Ian Bracegirdle 2004 http://mask-and-more-masks.com You may use this article freely on condition that you include this copyright line and URL and that people who subsequently use this article follow same conditions. Thank you for accepting these conditions.

The next response totally threw me.

He said "Senor you can have this mask for 25!"

Now this was really rare. He was dropping price and I was not even bargaining. Something

was definitely wrong.

"No I don't want a mask." was my reply.

His response was, "Senor, you can have this mask for 20."

Now I really was flabbergasted. "No thank you I don't want a mask.

On this process went until we reached 10 Quetzales. At that point I decided that £3.00 in UK

pounds it meant no-thing.

I still have mask and still tell this story, difference is now I understand what was

going on. Would you like to know? The reason for my bargain was that it was last sale of

the day. In process of selling most important sales are first of day because it

gives you luck for day. An earlier start means a more profitable day. Then next

important sale is last one of day as this gives seller luck for next time he

comes to market. When you consider that these people live from proceeds of their labours

and sales of their labours it is easy to understand.

All my masks have stories around them. Where I got them, why, what they were used for, what I

like about them etc. As I have

used many of my masks with children having stories helps to bring them alive. Funnily enough I

often find that my two crude horned mask from Guatemala fetch most interest. Young children

enjoy their direct message. The only other mask that receives as much attention or respect

(particularly from teenage boys) is Marka mask I have which only looks down. It is worn by

the man who carries out circumcision of young initiates. It fair brings a tear to their

eyes.

There are so many types of mask that it seems almost impossible to list each type. Many mask

are danced to day so new mask are always being produced. As with other areas masks are made

specially for tourist. The mask maker in Chichecastenango is worth a visit if you are in

Guatemala.

In Guatemala it is possible to discover conquistador masks that mock invaders. They are

often associated with Pedro

Alvarado who with his soldiers conquered Guatemala. Also seen are devil like mask which have

snake symbols associated with healing in most cultures. The deer dance, a reflection of a

Spanish tradition, has masked dancers performing in long faced deer mask.

As in Mexico many of festivals mirror European church with local additions. For

collector in both these areas it is possible still to buy good danced masks from source. This

is difficult to do with out local help. It is also possible to buy new masks form carvers

which are ones to be danced. Authenticity in these cases comes form carver. Even

tourist masks can have a high standard of craftsmanship.

In Mexico range of carnival and festival masks is vast. Some of production is personal,

the dancer creates his own

mask. Some of festivities include:-

The Dance of Moors and Christians

The Twelve Peers of France

Carnival before Lent

Animal dances in particular Tigre dance which is a representation of jaguar

The Festival of Crazies ( la fiesta de los locos )

La danza de los vaqueros

Dances for patron saints e.g.. San Isidro Labrador

The Day of Dead

And more.

To add to this wide range each area has its own interpretation of costume, dance and mask.

For collector this widens range considerably.

If you are interested in this particular area may I recommend following books

Mask arts of Mexico by Ruth Lechuga and Chloe Sayer Thames and Hudson ISBN 0 500 27797 4

Masks Art of Expression Ed John Mack British Museum ISBN 0 7141 2530 x

© Ian Bracegirdle 2004 1 Elderberry Close East Morton BD20 5WA UK 01535 692207 http://mask-and-more-masks.com You may use this article freely on condition that you include this copyright line and URL and that people who subsequently use this article follow same conditions. Thank you for accepting these conditions.