Mask History: Halloween Origins

Around 2000 BCE, the Celts in Europe were using masks as part of pagan rituals. The Celts were various tribal groups who lived during the Iron Age in Europe (1200 BCE-400 CE). The Celts had many rituals they celebrated over the course of the year, often coinciding with various seasonal transitions. The Celts celebrated, among other rituals, Samhain, the forerunner to modern day Halloween. During this time they celebrated their new year, which began on October 31, with Samhain. The fall was considered the end of the old year, with the winter time beginning the year anew. It was a time of remembering the old year, bringing in the new; not very much different from North American New Year celebrations. During this festival, the celebration of past ancestors comes heavily into play. While remembering and trying to communicate with those passed on, masks were predominant during this time. Heads of animals and other handmade masks were there to help ward away the evil spirits which could interfere with the communication with the ancestors. It was probably believed that wearing the animal heads also allowed them to stay in touch with nature, possibly trying to channel animal spirits. The connection with nature as well as with ancestors was an important rite with the Celts. There were bonfires, feasting and celebrations. Sacrifices were common during this time as well. We know of animal sacrifices, as well as the possibility of humans as well. This celebration was a combination of the celebration of the New Year and the celebration of their past ancestors.. These days were celebrated with masks of animals and spirits in their rituals. Masks would be used, depending on the celebration, to invite, drive away, celebrate, or give offerings in their various rituals.

Thiis practice continued until around 43 CE (Common Era), when Romans invaded and conquered most of the Celtic lands. As is with conquering armies, the Romans brought over their own traditions. Not wanting to totally eliminate the beliefs, for they were still needed to “convert” the Celts, instead, the name and direction of ritual was changed.

In 19^th century North America and Europe-the beginnings of the modern Halloween were starting to take form. As the immigrants came from Europe, and particularly the United Kingdom, they were were looking for a fresh start. However, they still had their Samhain rituals as well as collection of Christian rituals as a result the celebration was brought with them, with small changes. Although a new start was wanted, they still wanted to remember their roots. “Hallows eve” became Halloween. “All Saints Day” would eventually become a symbolic day, and “All Souls Day” was effectively dropped. Over time the strictness of the Christianity fell off. In fact, many modern Conservative Christians stopped having anything to do with the day, believing it is more prone to evil. The day would slowly evolve into modern day Halloween. Candy replaced soul bread. The idea of offering to the past ancestors is now replaced by kids making the offerings to themselves (with some wits suggesting now that the Dentist is the new offering deity).

Masks of the early part of the 20'th century tended to be cloth or paper masks. Because even at this point Halloween was the full merchandising holiday it is now. You dressed up and got candy door to door, most costumes being hand made.

In the 19430s the selling of Halloween as a holiday took a dramatic step. Ben Cooper started introducing a line of masks made of PVC, a form of plastic. Ben Cooper was born in lower New York in 1906. Although his father was a resturanteur, he was of more artistic bent, and found his way to founding Ben Cooper Inc. He created masks and costumes for the theatre set in New York. As live theatre dwindled due to the depression int eh 30's, Halloween took off as a lower cost alternative. He obtained licences with Disney among others and created his now famous mask and smock combination.These molded masks, in the shapes anything from monsters to princesses, were released with a decorative smock worn by the child. Now, costumes could be bought of the racks for rather affordable prices. From 1940 onward, his contribution along with other companies like Collegeville, made Halloween a merchandise dream with costumes and masks flowing off the racks of department stores.

Through the 60's and 70's the PVC masks held strong with more and more characters. In the 80's Cesar, a french mask and party company, began releasing Latex masks. Full headed and more "realistic" than than their PVC counterparts-latex would become the defacto material for halloween and costume mask making, and that continues to this day.

The masks have changed as well. What used to be animals and spirits has evolved. Halloween masks can be anything now, including animals, monsters, spirits, movie characters, celebrities, and sports heroes. Kids will dress up as the latest movie or cartoon hero. Adults also celebrate the day, going to Halloween parties dressing up in anything from modern celebrities to horror characters. Even politician masks are huge sellers, with a mythology that the most popular mask at an Election time will determine the outcome of the election (with surprisingly accurate results). For those who are parents taking the little ones out instead of going to parties, they too will dress up on the day, keeping in spirit of the day. From remembering the dead to devouring candy, Halloween and masks have evolved-from carved masks and animal heads, to modern day latex.

Continuing with the Halloween theme, we will loook more closely at Ben Cooper, Collegeville, Cesar, and other mask makers-and look more into how technology changed the masks we wear.