Skull and tiger masks

Masks and mask-making have had a long-standing tradition throughout the many cultures of Mexico. This tradition was a part of Indigenous cultures long before the Spanish conquest of Mexico in the 16th century and continues today. Many masks today represent the battles between good and evil taken from myths and religious stories for life experiences and celebrations such as Carnival and Christian Holy Week. They are worn for festivals and theatrical performances, for holidays like Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), or for lucha libre, a popular form of freestyle wrestling.

 

Masks like these were previously displayed in The Children’s Museum’s Passport to the World gallery, which was open from 1986 through 2008. They helped children and families learn about rich artistic and cultural traditions from many regions of the world. Today, this commitment to world cultures continues in the Take Me There® gallery.