A
party or
dance at which fancy
masks and
costumes are worn. The masquerade originated in
Italy, and was introduced into
France by
Catherine de Medici; reaching
England during the
reign of
Henry VIII, where it flourished under
Elizabeth I, giving rise to a new kind of
play - the
masque. Forbidden in
France in
1535, it was reintroduced by
Louis XIV, and again proscribed in
1789.
The masquerade continues to this day in Mardi Gras, Carnival, Halloween, Masquerade Balls, parties, parades, festivals and more.