Masquerades

Categories / Population/Urban Living
MASQUERADES, masquerade balls. A sort of a carnival where people wear masks. In Russia masquerades were put into practice by Tsar Peter the Great in the early 18th century (the larks of Drunkumenical Council, fancy-dress processions in commemoration of war victories etc.). Masquerades could last up to several days. In the reign of Empress Anna Ioannovna masquerades were closely connected with dancing (masquerade balls and formal-dress balls). Masquerades reached the peak of their popularity in the mid-18th century. They were arranged at court and in noblemen's houses. From the second half of the 18th century public masquerade balls where visitors paid came into fashion. In 1803-82 it was the Direction Board of Imperial Theatres that enjoyed the prerogative of arranging public masquerade balls. Since the mid-19th century masquerade balls were set in Anichkov Palace weekly. In the meantime masquerade theme balls became popular (like Oberon in the hall of the Assembly of Nobility and others). In the USSR ever since the 1930s masquerades became one of ways of conducting mass popular festivals. Festival masquerade balls have been set in clubs, parks, recreation houses and educational institutions.

References: Келлер Е.Э. Праздничная культура Петербурга: Очерки истории. СПб., 2001. p. 90-94, 126-127.

Y. N. Kruzhnov. Anna Ioannovna, Empress
Peter I, Emperor
Келлер Е. Э. Праздничная культура Петербурга: Очерки истории. СПб., 2001 Imperial Theatres Board
Anichkov Palace
1817
1830