The masked form hides identity and often allows for a transformation of the self as well as a coordination of the ritual.
King Louis XIV sent the Le Moyne brothers, Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, to establish French settlements in the Louisiane territory. Coincidentally, the expedition entered the mouth of the Mississippi River and settled a camp March 3, 1699, Mardi Gras. In honor of the Catholic holiday, Iberville named the spot Point du Mardi Gras.
During the 18th century while New Orleans was under French rule, the upper class established pre-Lenten masked balls and festivals. Simultaneously, the free men of color established the Place de Negroes as a Sunday meeting place. The historic site, now known as Congo Square, was a location where African Americans could recall their music and dancing traditions. It also became a place where they could celebrate Mardi Gras openly and among themselves.
While the French colony fell to the Spanish and eventually was traded to the United States, the public celebration of Mardi Gras transformed parallel to the racial perception of the masqueraders. In 1781, the Spanish prohibited black persons from being masked, wearing feathers and attending night balls. In 1804, after controversy about whether to play French or English music at the Carnival balls, an ordinance passed requiring the presence of policemen at celebrations. A few years later, the American rulers banned masking and balls altogether (fearing possible covers for spies of Aaron Burr). Creoles held private parties instead, ignoring the bans. Although the prohibition was eventually lifted and mule-drawn decorated wagons paraded through the streets, it was not until the formation of Krewe Comus in 1856 that Mardi Gras lost its controversial reputation.
The mask has always held a significant role throughout pre-Lenten celebrations. The debate about its origin continues, but many believe they are meant to drive away the forces of winter and allow for the coming of spring. In Central and South America, Carnival celebrations yield allegorical characters. In the African-influenced Caribbean, masks hold spiritual significance as they are widely used with rituals of the dead. In Italy and New Orleans, the Venetian masks allowed people to move freely between the social classes, outside everyday convention.
