MrsKreamer
College Admissions Counselor
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Since Mardi Gras day is almost here, I thought I would post some intersting facts about my favorite local holiday. First a little history:
Mardi Gras(french for Fat Tuesday) is actually the last day in the season of Carnival. Carnival season starts every year on January 6th(the Feast of Epiphany AKA Twelfth Night-celebrating the arrival of the Three Kings to the birthplace of Jesus). Like most Christian holidays, this festival of fun has roots in Pagan celebrations of spring. Pope Gregory XIII made it an offical in 1582 marking his calander(Gregorian caladar we still use today) from Twelfth Night to the day before Ash Wenesday(the kickoff to Lent, a time of fasting and reflection). That way all partying and debautchery would be done when it came time to fast and pray.
Mardi Gras arrived in North America with two 17th century explorers, Iberville and Bienville. The explorers eventually found the Mississippi River delta on March 3, 1699, Mardi Gras of that year. They made camp and celebrated. There is much debate as to wheter this was indeed North America's first MArdi Gras or just a party to celebrate arriving safely. Just a few decades later New Orleans was founded and Carnival was an annual event. Parades were added in 1838.
Even then Carnival was considered an event "defined by drunkeness and violence." It was even outlawed twice, by the Spanards and then Americans. Then came Comus, originally founded in Mobile, Alabama, in 1857 to save carnival. Comus came forward and organized a parade, with a theme and costumes.
By 1872. Carnival was in trouble yet again. New Orleans was ravaged by Carpetbaggers and the people were fed up. Riots against the government were forming. Just as Carnival approached, Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff Alexandrovitch was said to be coming to this year's festivities. A new Krewe was born. An organization of both govenment and its opposition would come together and they would choose a "King of all Carnival" known as Rex. They named the Grand Duke as the very first Rex. The first African American krewe, Zulu, was formed in 1909. Rex and Zulu share the stage Mardi Gras day as they meet each other for the first time, and toast the mayor.
Fun Facts:
The first few weeks of Carnival are usually private functions for Krewes(term for private organizations who run each parade) such as very lavish, invitation-only Balls. The public portion of Carnival usually starts 2-3 weeks before Mardi Gras day. Mardi Gras can fall anywhere between February 3rd to March 9th, depending on when Easter is. Usually there are around 70 parades in the New Orleans Metro area, although this year there are far less.
Mardi Gras has only been cancelled 13 times since it began in New Orleans. 1862-1865 for the Civil War, 1875 for political unrest, 1918-1919 for WWI, 1942-1945 for WWII, 1951 for the Korean War, and in 1979 police strikes cancelled MArdi Gras in New Orleans, but many moved to the suburbs(where there are still many parades today). It's schedule has only been altered a few times as well. Mardi Gras 2002 was a little rearanged b/c that year we hosted the Superbowl. The superbowl had been pushed back due to a longer season, due to the 9/11 tradgedy. This year's Mardi Gras is a bit more condensed than most years. Due to shortage of police, many krewes will parade on the same day.
While Mardi Gras has never had an offical theme, some years' krewes reflect on the world around us. Since 2003 Patriotic themes have been very popular. This year many themes will revolve around the post-Katrina state of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
MYTH: MARDI GRAS IS X RATED:
Most of Mardi Gras is G-PG rated and is very family friendly. Flashing is technically illegal. If you flash for beads on Bourbon Street, many police officers will look the other way, they are there to prevent riots and theft. Flash in Metairie or the Garden District and you have just won yourself a free night in parish lockup courtesy Jefferson Parish or Orleans Parish(wherever you happen to be
)
For more interesting facts click here
This information came from 3 sources. General knowlege I already knew, Nola.com, and The Times-Picayune Mardi Gras 2006 Guide.
Mardi Gras(french for Fat Tuesday) is actually the last day in the season of Carnival. Carnival season starts every year on January 6th(the Feast of Epiphany AKA Twelfth Night-celebrating the arrival of the Three Kings to the birthplace of Jesus). Like most Christian holidays, this festival of fun has roots in Pagan celebrations of spring. Pope Gregory XIII made it an offical in 1582 marking his calander(Gregorian caladar we still use today) from Twelfth Night to the day before Ash Wenesday(the kickoff to Lent, a time of fasting and reflection). That way all partying and debautchery would be done when it came time to fast and pray. Mardi Gras arrived in North America with two 17th century explorers, Iberville and Bienville. The explorers eventually found the Mississippi River delta on March 3, 1699, Mardi Gras of that year. They made camp and celebrated. There is much debate as to wheter this was indeed North America's first MArdi Gras or just a party to celebrate arriving safely. Just a few decades later New Orleans was founded and Carnival was an annual event. Parades were added in 1838. Even then Carnival was considered an event "defined by drunkeness and violence." It was even outlawed twice, by the Spanards and then Americans. Then came Comus, originally founded in Mobile, Alabama, in 1857 to save carnival. Comus came forward and organized a parade, with a theme and costumes. By 1872. Carnival was in trouble yet again. New Orleans was ravaged by Carpetbaggers and the people were fed up. Riots against the government were forming. Just as Carnival approached, Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff Alexandrovitch was said to be coming to this year's festivities. A new Krewe was born. An organization of both govenment and its opposition would come together and they would choose a "King of all Carnival" known as Rex. They named the Grand Duke as the very first Rex. The first African American krewe, Zulu, was formed in 1909. Rex and Zulu share the stage Mardi Gras day as they meet each other for the first time, and toast the mayor.Fun Facts:
The first few weeks of Carnival are usually private functions for Krewes(term for private organizations who run each parade) such as very lavish, invitation-only Balls. The public portion of Carnival usually starts 2-3 weeks before Mardi Gras day. Mardi Gras can fall anywhere between February 3rd to March 9th, depending on when Easter is. Usually there are around 70 parades in the New Orleans Metro area, although this year there are far less. Mardi Gras has only been cancelled 13 times since it began in New Orleans. 1862-1865 for the Civil War, 1875 for political unrest, 1918-1919 for WWI, 1942-1945 for WWII, 1951 for the Korean War, and in 1979 police strikes cancelled MArdi Gras in New Orleans, but many moved to the suburbs(where there are still many parades today). It's schedule has only been altered a few times as well. Mardi Gras 2002 was a little rearanged b/c that year we hosted the Superbowl. The superbowl had been pushed back due to a longer season, due to the 9/11 tradgedy. This year's Mardi Gras is a bit more condensed than most years. Due to shortage of police, many krewes will parade on the same day. While Mardi Gras has never had an offical theme, some years' krewes reflect on the world around us. Since 2003 Patriotic themes have been very popular. This year many themes will revolve around the post-Katrina state of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. MYTH: MARDI GRAS IS X RATED:
Most of Mardi Gras is G-PG rated and is very family friendly. Flashing is technically illegal. If you flash for beads on Bourbon Street, many police officers will look the other way, they are there to prevent riots and theft. Flash in Metairie or the Garden District and you have just won yourself a free night in parish lockup courtesy Jefferson Parish or Orleans Parish(wherever you happen to be
)For more interesting facts click here
This information came from 3 sources. General knowlege I already knew, Nola.com, and The Times-Picayune Mardi Gras 2006 Guide.
Happy Mardi Gras!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Don't you just love Mardi Gras? It's one of my favorite holidays. 
I know exactly what you mean. 
Reading what you posted had me learning a lot of facts that I never knew about our local holiday, lol 
But at least they will be off for Fat Tuesday. 
I have been stomped for a moon pie. For the unenlightened a moon pie is a snack of two large crumbly cookies with marshmellow in between, dipped in chocolate. 
some are dipped in banana flavoring,but the ones at Mardi Gras are always chocolate. the krewes throw them from the floats as they pass and people scramble like they're starving to get them. You can buy them at the store; I think Little Debbie makes them. They are totally disgusting but kids love 'em 
Finally, the lady saw that my Mom wasn't lettin' go so she said a few cuss words, gave a few of "those looks" and walked away. So, in the end of that story, DN finally got some beads, and we all have a major memory of that parade. 
