As soon as I entered the stadium, I was amazed by the brightly colored, intricately designed Lucha masks and capes lining the walls of the entrance. I couldn't help but to grin excitedly from ear-to-ear as I continued down the path into the bright lights of the stadium. The day I had been waiting for had finally arrived...I finally got to attend a Lucha Libre (Mexican wrestling)! From the dramatic entrances (accompanied by blaring music to get the crowd riled up) to the skillful back flips executed from the very top of the ropes that surrounded the ring--the Lucha Libre and its Luchadores (fighters/wrestlers) provided an exciting source of entertainment that I will never forget!
I learned that the colorful Mexican wrestling masks used in Lucha Libres have a special significance for the Luchadores (wrestlers) that wear them as well as a significant historical meaning. In addition to hiding the identities of the Luchadores, they serve as a way to pay homage to their personal family history and to the Aztec warriors of ancient times--as those warriors often wore masks during rituals and religious ceremonies. In Lucha libre, the masks designs range from simple patterns to vibrantly-colored images of animals or ancient heroes. In short, they are works of art!
