Research - European body painting

Around Europe there are many traditional costumes but there is not much use of body painting - see http://www.euroheritage.net/traditionalcostumes.shtml.

The two examples I found are:

1. Coconut clog dancers from the North West of England.  The dances they perform are actually folk dances and the custom of blackened faces may reflect a pagan or medieval background which was done to disguise the dancers from being recognised by evil spirits afterwards, it may also reflect mining connections.

The picture is by no means clear and tales have been related by word of mouth, however, the dances are supposed to have originated with Moorish Pirates (hence the costume). Some of these sailors are said to have settled in Cornwall and become employed in local mining. As mines and quarries opened in Lancashire in the 18th & 19th century a few Cornishmen came north bringing with them mining expertise. It is with these people that the dances were reputedly brought to this area.

Source: http://www.coconutters.co.uk/

Other Morris Dancers also paint their faces (http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/mayday/morrisdancing.html):

2. Although it may actually be a myth it is widely held that in early Britain Celtic Warriors painted themselves blue with woad.  It is generally believed that complex Celtic patterns and symbols were painted onto the body and face: