Mobile Mystic Society
The Cowbellion de Rakin Society was the first formally organized and masked mystic society in the United States to celebrate with a pedestrian parade in 1830. 
History.
The "Cowbellions" got their start when a young merchant and cotton factor from Pennsylvania, Michael Krafft, began a parade with rakes, hoes, and cowbells. The "Cowbellions" introduced horse-drawn floats to the parades in 1840 with a parade entitled, "Heathen Gods and Goddesses.
Gallery.
1837 account of the Cowbellion celebrations of Christmas and New Year. 
References.
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