Beginning roughly in 1958, the Krewe of Yuga threw private costume parties which at once mocked the traditional carnival and also appropriated it.
Comus, Rex, Krewe of Proteus and Knights of Momus were highly secret and no one ever saw behind their masks.
If you are a member of a krewe, you will usually make your own mask.
The idea caught fire and the Krewe exists to this day.
The year 1857 saw the debut of the Mistick Krewe of Comus, dressed in highly theatrical costume that was a representation of "The Demon Actors in Milton's Paradise Lost."
This could be dangerous, so the anonymity created by the masks was crucial and allowed the krewe members to mock others as they liked without fear of recognition.
This is ideal if you intend on being a part of a Mardi Gras krewe or something similar on a regular basis (unless you want to wear something different every time).