Mascaras de México (2/27)

When Mesoamerican civilizations were subjugated by the Spanish, their belief systems were often replaced by Christianity. However, throughout Mexico, it is easy to find remnants of indigenous rituals, modified and adapted to the new religion — including the use of masks.

One great example is the Parachicos dance of Chiapas that dates back to the 17th century. The traditional mask that is used portrays stereotypical European features — blue eyes, light skin, rosy cheeks, and facial hair. 
The many myths surrounding the origins of the dance all have one theme in common: vastly different cultures adapting to one another. Whether the mask was intended to parody or venerate, it clearly reveals the impact that race has had on the Mexican psyche since colonial times.

#mexican #masks