Masks play a significant role in all cultures. In Europe, mask parades honoring the god Dionysus have been known since the time of ancient Greece. Many of our mask traditions likely trace back to pre-Christian Celtic or Germanic roots. Masks create a connection to the subconscious, to archaic cultural layers, and to the otherworld. Vibrant mask traditions still fulfill a diverse social function in the modern world. The last decade has particularly been marked by the emergence of new mask traditions and the revival of old parades. This extensively illustrated book takes the reader on a journey to the most fascinating masks and mask traditions in the Alpine region: the figures of Frau Perchta, Perchten parades in Germany and Austria, Tyrolean mask traditions: Blochzieher in Fiss, Wampeler, Tuxer and Jumos in Axam, Schemenläufer in Imst, Muller.