Masks have been used in many cultures and civilizations since time immemorial to hide or to protect human faces. These are remarkable objects, created by the imaginative members of traditional civilizations. The tradition of masks dates back to the early 6th century B.C.

It was used throughout the world. People from Alaskan cultures used masks along with drumming, dancing and story telling. They used then on many ceremonial occasions. However, after the influx of Christianity in the late 19th century, masked dancing was suppressed and today it is not practiced as it was before in the Alaskan villages. Masks were also used in Japan and Mexico. Mexican masks are spicy and humorous. In Puerto Rico, there are Vejigante masks. These masks show a fusion of African, Spanish and Caribbean cultures. The Vejigante is an imaginary character full of energy and color.

In ancient times people used design masks. These masks were generally in the form of animals or other persons. These included ceremonial masks, festival masks and theatrical masks. In medieval Rome people used masks to hide their promiscuity, because Rome was less populated and people knew each other well.

Common raw materials used for masks are clay, cloth, cornhusks, feathers, fiber, furs, grass, horn, leather, metal, paper, shell, stone paper, and wood. These range from simple masks to intricate carvings, and from polished wood to mosaics and gaudy adornments. Nowadays there are protective masks like gas masks, catcher’s masks in a baseball game and welder’s masks to protect from the intense light of welding machines.

There are fancy dress masks, horror masks which range from acid face to zombies, pop star masks like masks of Michael Jackson and Madonna and political masks for political faces. Then there are character masks for cartoons like Bob the Builder or Dora the Explorer, masks to make people look like animals, and more. The styles of masks continue to change, as they have over the centuries.