1867 – Mask: Witch
- Physical description:
- Witch carnival mask from Cologne - a moulded plastic grey-haired hag face, with a blue and red headscarf, and elastic to hold it for wearing.
- Museum classification:
- Images of Witchcraft
- Size:
- 300 x 150 x 140
- Information:
Cologne has a tradition of making witch masks for its carnival.
The Cologne carnival begins on a Thursday six weeks before Easter. It is a time of riotous celebration before the start of Lent. The first day is the Women's Carnival, and witch masks (although worn throughout the Carnival) are worn on that day in particular. They represent both the benign Wise Woman and the Wicked Witch of German folk tales.
In Germany most homes have a 'house witch' - a fabric model of a witch - to bring them good luck, often with a small coin sewn into the witch's pocket. Some homes have both a large 'house witch' and a small 'kitchen witch'. Many supermarkets sell them.- Resource:
- Object
- Materials:
- Plastic, fabric
Cologne has a tradition of making witch masks for its carnival.
The Cologne carnival begins on a Thursday six weeks before Easter. It is a time of riotous celebration before the start of Lent. The first day is the Women's Carnival, and witch masks (although worn throughout the Carnival) are worn on that day in particular. They represent both the benign Wise Woman and the Wicked Witch of German folk tales.
In Germany most homes have a 'house witch' - a fabric model of a witch - to bring them good luck, often with a small coin sewn into the witch's pocket. Some homes have both a large 'house witch' and a small 'kitchen witch'. Many supermarkets sell them.