A mask is an object normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance, or entertainment. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes, as well as in the performing arts and for entertainment.

What does a mask symbolize?

Masks usually represent supernatural beings, ancestors, and fanciful or imagined figures, and they can also be portraits. The localization of a particular spirit in a specific mask must be considered a highly significant reason for its existence.

What is this word mask?

The word mask is most closely derived from the Medieval Latin word 'masca' meaning 'spectre or nightmare'. In English, the word dates back to the 1530s when it was anglicized from the Middle French word 'masque' meaning 'a cover or guard for the face'.