Za suvremene Grke: “Karneval bez maski je kao kruh bez brašna”. Maske su tradicionalno bile važan dio religijskih svetkovina u antičkoj i modernoj Grčkoj, osobito onih vezanih uz tijek agrikulturne godine, ponajprije proljetni ekvinocij, dok moderna sezona karnevala prije perioda Korizme nije zamijenila antičke svetkovine posvećene Dionizu, koji je uz Demetru, bio ključno božanstvo poljoprivrednika. Maskiranje se prakticiralo i početkom svibnja, prije žetve te kasnije prije sjetve i sredinom zime. Prema jednom od antičkih izvora, Pauzaniji, svećenik za vrijeme godišnjih rituala posvećenih Demetri stavlja masku božice i udara zemlju štapom kako bi probudio sile podzemlja i zemlju učinio plodnom.
Značajke antičkih i suvremenih svetkovina pod maskama u članku se uspoređuju s naglaskom na dodirnim točkama. Istražuje se snaga maski općenito, kao npr. u vezi s Meduzom i drugim antičkim mitskim likovima te upućuje na važnost maskiranja i životinjskih maski u obredima prijelazaAccording to the modern Greeks: “Carnival without masks is like bread without flour”. Masks have traditionally been an important part of the religious festivals in ancient and modern Greece, particularly at the celebrations which are performed in connection with the most important phases during the agricultural year, first and foremost around spring equinox, when the modern carnival season before the Lenten period has replaced the ancient festivals dedicated to Dionysos, who along with Demeter, was the primary deity of the farmer, but people are also masquerading in the beginning of May before the grain harvest, and later before sowing and in mid-winter. One of our ancient sources, Pausanias tells that at the yearly rituals dedicated to Kidarian Demeter, the priest puts on the mask of the goddess, and beats the earth with rods, to wake up the powers of the underworld and make the earth fertile.
The article will compare some significant ancient festivals where masks were important with their modern parallels as celebrated during carnival in Greek Macedonia, where I have conducted fieldwork in several villages. I will also explore the power of the mask in general such as in connection with Medusa and other ancient mythical figures, and discuss the importance of masquerading and animal disguise during rites de passages generally, both in the cycle of nature and the life of humans
