The Fool

My first direct experience of fool in masking was watching Morris Dancing here at home in Yorkshire, England. The Morris dancers were dressed up in their usual dancing shoes with bells and baggy pants. To be absolutely honest I have always found Morris men a bit funny! Perhaps I should explain about Cecil Sharp, no I'll leave that to a footnote.

The Boars Head Morris Men were dancing in a pub car park. ( Pub short for Public House a place for drinking beer etc. in UK.) They were doing usual dances that are related to fertility, good crops and harvests etc. But of course they really don't quite have pagan beliefs off pat. Mind you when you see them drink ale in quantities that they did then you would realise that they had perhaps fully understood pagan ways of having a good time. ( Not to say all people who follow pagan ways drink lots of ale, just a convenient concept )

What you are probably asking by this juncture is this to do with fools?

Well Boars Head Morris Men had a masked fool. He was complete with boars mask pantaloons and boars headed stick. He also carried a bucket for collecting cash donations for charity, or maybe beer money. He followed dancers mimicked them and cajoled watchers for change to fill his bucket.

Interestingly I knew fool quite well and in real life, with out mask, he would never do what he did with mask. Being English he was just far too polite!

The Boars Head stick became a threatened cudgel, never used, just pointed and waved. The mask was a place to hide behind, for a normal everyday person. As you will find by looking further on this site mask allows people to change personalities. He bullied and pranced and enjoyed his dual mission to collect money and to protect dancers from crowd. Sometimes children get too close. That is not allowed. Sometimes dancers space is threatened by cars entering parking space. Wow! That is not a good idea!

But suddenly fool sets off in pursuit of three attractive women. He rattles his bucket and rounds them up as a sheep dog would. They are pressed into donating generously. He just leaves his dancers unprotected to fend for themselves. The next ten minutes is exchanged in good natured banter. ( The wife of fool is present! )

The above is from memory, probably about 20 years ago. In terms of mask traditions that is very recent. For mask traditions can be traced back at least 25,000 years. I am certain they go back to time of first questioning peoples; 50,000.................or more years?

What then is this reference to fools and masking traditions. Well as you dig through this site you will find that fool crops up in several other traditions.

In Masquerade fool is an essential figure. On surface he, occasionally she, is one who keeps order. He controls children, he stops their prying eyes invading dressing room. His stick maintains performance area. He cracks jokes, entertains, juggles pulls faces and GETS VIOLENT. He chases children with a whip and hits them mercilessly if he gets chance. He tries to seduce women, and does if he can!

Suddenly he becomes bored and goes away to sit and talk philosophically with a group of friends from his unmasked time. As conversation progresses he introduces new ideas. He begins to ridicule accepted norm. He questions accepted reality. He attempts to turns arguments on their heads

The Ubiquitous Fool

The fool is a ubiquitous. The fool occurs in masking traditions of North and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, China, ........................ if you know some more please fill in my blank.

Universally fool treads line between normality and incongruities that world. The fool is both sensible and totally none-sensible. Not that he does not use his senses he just uses then in a different way. He questions and cajoles. He jokes and makes fun of others. Yet when someone over steps arbitrary boundary, (who decided ) he changes. Suddenly he becomes quiet hearth cat, sleeping feline, domesticated, sleek and silky. And as you stroke and pleasure cat she begins to become claws and teeth and worse growls. He becomes raging tiger, claws and teeth.

What is role of fool?

Central and Southern America have a rich masking history. One of earliest examples dates

from 10000 to 12000 BC. It is a fossilised vertebra of an extinct lama representing head of

a coyote. More recent records begun during conquest of area, contemporary excavations

combined with murals by indigenous people reveal an array of styles and uses. Most of

surviving masks are apparently burial masks. Often they are carved from some form of rock or

made form clay. Skull masks, some jade encrusted, have also been excavated. These are believed

to hold spirits of gods or ancestors and when captured from an enemy take away power.

In contrast to above murals and painted vase of Mayan era show colourful

head-dresses and mask used for a variety of occasions. Masks were not only used for

entertainment and religious purposes but also by warriors. The influx of conquistadors

caused erosion of established order and imposition of catholic church. The

results of this, across whole of Central and South America, was a synthesis of Pagan and

Christian celebrations. Despite removal of ruling elite masking traditions

continued especially where associated with agriculture and fertility. (Much same as in

Europe)

The missionaries alarmed at continuing rituals encouraged local people to adapt their

festivals to Christian ones which fell close to same time of year. For example in Andes

Intirayami feel close to Carnival. The pre- Hispanic ceremonies for dead in Central America

coincided with All Souls and All Saints. Just as in Andes where ancient temples were built

upon with new churches traditions of masquerade were embodied with in new

festivals. Interestingly this had already happened as Christianity spread throughout Europe.

Within second layer of change there was already a similar layer of pre-Christian pagan

practice. The festivals that developed during these times have, in many cases, endured through

to present day.

Guatemala and Mexico

The collectors of old masks from this area find that even masks from last 30 years that

have been used in festivities fetch good prices. Masks from further, back depending upon

quality, can command even higher prices. If you have a contact in area it does help. My

sister lives in area and sometimes helps by giving me great masks. I anticipate paying but

she

is a brilliant sister. Two good galleries to contact are>>>>>>>>> and>>>>>>.

Guatemala

There are lots of good contemporary makers. I have bought several masks from mask maker on

the market in Chitchecastenango. I have a story about mask makers in this area especially for

those visiting on a tight budget. When ever visiting an area of world that is different to

your own it is useful to get as much local knowledge as possible. However sometimes local

knowledge is not enough for something new comes along......

I use this story in my mask making classes to allow people to experience cultural differences.

After a days outing with my sister, Sylvia, her daughter Antonia, my wife Dot and our two sons,

Sam and Adam, visiting various interesting places we stopped in Panahachel. It was early

evening and we were ready to relax before our evening meal, soft drinks and beer were on offer.

We were simply enjoying evening air, time of day and conversation. It had been a good

day.

Suddenly a local man and his son approached use. He was dominant. "Senor do you want to buy

this masks."

Having spent my allowance for day, and having no interest whatsoever in mask I said

"No".

The mask was a really low grade tourist mask painted blue and Yellow. It had a snake curling

around its face and two sheep or goats horns nailed to its head.

Then negotiating started.

"No thank you!" I responded, politely but firmly.

After a time you do get tired of people selling things to us gringos.

He persisted. "Senor, you can have this mask for 30 quetzales."