Mexico
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The Mexican Masks...
Nonetheless, it is important to mention that neither the masks nor the dances have remained throughout time. Fusion of ways of pre-Hispanic and European thinking has produced a syncretism, a new culture, or better yet, new cultures. Therefore Mexico is a pluricultural country. Mexico is especially rich in dances, in which an enormous variety masks is used; this is so in indigenous communities as well as rural and urban communities. There are dances that express the Weltanschauung of pre-Hispanic people; other dances represent biblical themes or customs of the executants, etc.
Subjacent to its apparent theme, the dances tend to have other meanings: ask for rain, give thanks for a good harvest, ask for a good hunting, worship the "tona" ñ which is the double animal every person possesses and with which she or he shares their future -, render homage to the old, etc. But whatever the plot may be, dances are usually held during the townís patron feasts, or during peregrinations, lead by devotees of a wide region, to some worshipped sanctuary.
Certain festivities are celebrated throughout Mexico, mainly during the carnival, Easter, and the day of the dead. Within these celebrations, masked characters frequently participate. Changes in indigenous, religious, or political authorities are sometimes accompanied by dances. Even though the masks are a means to represent a certain character by the context in which it is used, they are always a ceremonial object given that the dance in honor of the patron saint, the forefathers, to represent the steps of the Passion, etc.
Even though the dancer participates with pleasure, the fact that she or he is masked and wearing at times heavy garments for long hours under the sun, in itself represents a big sacrifice. Consequently, the dances, far from being folkloric exhibitions, represent an important ritual for the community. The spectators are the inhabitants of the town and, since they know the dances mperfectly well, they are a very receptive public that enjoys each moment of the celebration.
Apart from their function in the dances, the masks are considered a work of art, which allow an esthetic pleasure. The treatment tends to be realistic, exact portraits of certain characters, but there are also superpositions of animals, predators, etc. with unimaginable results. There are serious faces, smiley faces, and cartoon-like faces; malignant, diabolic, terrifying, kind, and silly appearances. The races that gave way to todayís Mexicans can be admired with masks of white, indigenous, and black people.
Even though most masks are carved in wood, other material can be used like leather, skin, fabric, agglutinated paper, wax, mud, wire netting, tinplate, and much more. The artist who produces this enormous range of masks is, generally, a farmer therefore in charge of the continuity of this tradition.
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