Kids with painted faces could be seen running around fair grounds, children's parties and carnivals. Nowadays, face painting is becoming so popular and it's almost always that you see face painting booths in every event. Face painting has been gaining ground the past couple of years and kids have been more than happy to close their eyes and sit still all in the name of having their face painted. Face painting started way back the early days of our ancestors and it's not a newly introduced activity. Face painting had different significant uses before; warriors and ancient tribes used it either for religious purposes, as camouflage or to separate one tribe from the other. The Chinese, Native Americans and Egyptians are only some examples of people who used face painting early on.
Warriors who paint their faces did it whenever they went out face enemies or to go to war. They would do this to strike fear in their enemies and t hopefully intimidate them to just give up. Face painting were also used by some tribes to distinguish themselves from other tribes. Depending on the design and colors, the paintings on their faces imposed different meanings. When they are preparing for war, they would paint their faces in black color, while red stood for war and white is used to show or promote peace.
Face painting was also used by some tribes as camouflage for hunting and for going into battle. Those who did this would use paint from a natural source and would make their face and sometimes, other parts of their body the same color as the surroundings. This would help them hide from their enemies or secretly sneak up on animals they were hunting. Face painting was also used for religious purposes, ceremonies or rituals. There were tribes who believed that it meant powers when you wear certain colors of face paint.
Other than being a fun activity for kids during parties and in fairs and carnivals, face painting also has a very colorful history. The history of face painting is rooted on power, tribes and spiritual beliefs- very far from how we use it today. Face painting invokes no harm in children but it would be much better if you could also explain to them the history of face painting.