What is the difference between a masquerade and a regular costume party? Do the costumes have to be somewhat fancier or something? Any other information you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
I suppose the main difference is that you have to wear a mask at a masquerade, whereas a fancy dress party you just dress up. Also, at masquerades people just generally dress formal - they don't come dressed as something.
If you want a good mental image of a masquerade then I would watch the masquerade scene in the film of The Phantom of the Opera.
a masquerade you just wear a mask with a fancy dress and a costume part, you actucally wear the whole costume, including the dress, any jewelry and of course the mask.
"I love you," she whispered in his ear, before taking his mouth with her own.
A Masquerade, has it's own specific style; which sadly most people bastardize.
In a traditional Venetian Masquerade, one should wear a costume of a classical god or baroque dress.
The masks should be of the Venetian style, made from paper mashé.
Here's some history. It was originally formed during the black death, when people thought that wearing a mask would protect you from the miasma ( putrid air) which they believed carried the plague. Over time the wealthy began to elaborate their masks, due to the fact that they wore them for most of the time. When the plague went away, Venetians had already invested in these fabulous masks - so became a kind of jewelery... In later years, they were favoured by the courts of Europe, because of they afforded aristocratic party-goers some degree of anonymity; when "cavorting" with other party guests.
I am always saying "Glad to've met you" to somebody I'm not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though. — Holden Caulfield
