Paper Short Abstract:

The article examines the heightened aesthetics and sensory role of Romanian carnival masks during Christmas and New Year. Drawing on art anthropology, sensory analysis, and ritual studies, it shows how masks transcend aesthetics, serving as tools to express identity, power, and shared meaning through evolving sensory strategies.

Paper Abstract:

The masks used in Romanian winter carnivals are increasingly becoming larger, more imposing, and more colorful. This evolution is driven by two key factors: the increasing emphasis on heightened aesthetic appeal and the need for masks to create a significant sensory impact that resonates with broader and more diverse audiences. These changes extend beyond the masks themselves to include the overall performance, incorporating larger groups of participants and more amplified soundscapes, thereby enhancing the sensory intensity of the experience.

These developments underscore the adaptive nature of ritual practices, where sensory and aesthetic elements are essential in maintaining cultural relevance and ensuring the ritual’s effectiveness. By leveraging these strategies, such rituals serve to express and reinforce collective identities, power dynamics, and shared meanings within the community.

Thus, ritual elements such as masks function not only as aesthetic artifacts but as active agents in constructing and conveying identity, power, and collective meaning through evolving sensory strategies. By examining case studies from Romanian Christmas and New Year carnivals, this article aims to explore how these adaptations reflect broader socio-cultural shifts, emphasizing the centrality of sensory impact in maintaining the ritual’s efficacy and resonance in contemporary contexts.