What is the significance of the mask?
Masks became popular in the 1930’s when superhero comic strips first took Mexico by storm. Aztecan and other traditional Mexican and Christian artforms were adopted for mask decorations, and the result is a fifty year-old artform unique in this world. Masks ARE NOT about concealing someone’s identity or hiding someone’s face. They are about artistic and personal espression. Masks can represent a luchador/a’s family crest, ancestral lineage, or affinity for a certain animal species. They are like a coat of arms worn on the head, and the connection a wrestler has for his or her “gimmick” can by quite intense. For a super article expanding on this topic, please read La Mascara!
