11. Costume-wearing itself serves as a profound psychological and sociological release. In a society where public attire has historically been governed by strict religious and social norms, the chance to entirely shed one’s identity—even for a few hours—allows for an escape from the daily pressures of conservative social expectations. The anonymity afforded by a mask or an elaborate costume facilitates a level of public interaction and self-expression that would be severely constrained on any other day.
