What is a Masquerade Ball and why wear a Masquerade Mask?
A masquerade ball is basically an occasion/event or party in which those attending appear in costume wearing a mask (Masquerade mask). Often these kinds of social gatherings or carnivals as they were called in the day were a part of 15th century life as elaborate and decadent pageants, or processions celebrating marriage along with other major medieval social occasions of note. Masquerade balls had been a part of costumed public festivities in Italy throughout the 16th century. A must attend event for members of the upper classes, these dances were held with great fan fare especially in Venice where the event know as the Venetian Carnival become as popular as they were notorious. With the fall of the Venetian Republic near the end of the 18th century, the use and tradition of masquerade masks gradually began to decline, until they basically disappeared altogether. Not until the early 1900’s did they become popular again across Europe. Masquerade balls were often turned into a game of g
