Mardi Gras in New Orleans
holiday mardi gras celebrated southern louisiana including city new orleans celebration concentrated two week shrove tuesday day ash wednesday start lent western christian tradition mardi gras french fat tuesday season known carnival begin th night january th extends midnight ash wednesday club krewe ball start soon though extremely private king queen coming wealthy old family court consisting season debutante high society krewes stage parade fat tuesday get nearer parade start earnest usually one major parade day weather permitting many day several large parade largest elaborate parade take place last five day mardi gras season final week many event occur throughout new orleans surrounding community including parade ball masquerade ball parade new orleans organized social club known krewes follow parade schedule route year earliestestablished krewes mistick krewe comus earliest rex knight momus krewe proteus several modern super krewes well known holding large parade event often featuring celebrity guest krewe endymion krewe bacchus well zulu social aid pleasure club—a predominantly african american krewe float rider traditionally toss throw crowd common throw string colorful plastic bead doubloon decorated plastic throw cup small inexpensive toy major krewes follow parade schedule route year many tourist center carnival season activity bourbon street major parade originate uptown midcity district follow route along st charles avenue canal street upriver side spanish quarter walking parade notably krewe du vieux tit rex also take place downtown faubourg marigny spanish quarter weekend preceding mardi gras day mardi gras day traditionally concludes meeting court rex comus first record mardi gras celebrated louisiana mouth mississippi river lower plaquemines parish louisiana march iberville bienville men celebrated part observance catholic practice date first celebration festivity new orleans unknown account marcantoine caillot celebrating music dance masking costuming including crossdressing account custom carnival ball already established procession wearing mask street mardi gras took place sometimes prohibited law quickly renewed whenever restriction lifted enforcement waned bernard xavier de marigny de mandeville rich plantation owner french descent raised money fund official mardi gras celebration james r creecy book scene south miscellaneous piece describes new orleans mardi gras shrove tuesday day remembered stranger new orleans day fun frolic comic masquerading mischief city alive wide awake active operation men boy woman girl bond free white black yellow brown exert invent appear grotesque quizzical diabolic horrible strange mask disguise human body seen head beast bird beast bird human head demibeasts demifishes snake head body arm ape manbats moon mermaid satyr beggar monk robber parade march foot horseback wagon cart coach car c rich confusion street wildly shouting singing laughing drumming fiddling fifeing throwing flour broadcast wend reckless way businessmen gathered club room french quarter organize secret society observe mardi gras formal parade founded new orleans first oldest krewe mistick krewe comus according one historian comus aggressively english celebration new orleans always considered french festival hard think clearer assertion parade lead holiday passed frenchspeakers angloamericans certain extent american americanized new orleans creole certain extent new orleans creolized american thus wonder angloamericans boasting business prowess helped construct elaborate version traditional lead organized carnival passed creole american political economic power course nineteenth century spectacle creoleamerican carnival american using carnival form compete creole ballroom street represents creation new orleans culture neither entirely creole entirely american louisiana declared mardi gras legal state holiday war economic political weather condition sometimes led cancellation major parade especially american civil war world war world war ii city always celebrated carnival rex parade theme harvest queen filmed american mutoscope co rumored longlost recording rediscovered twominute film record parade float including one transporting live ox december film deemed culturally historically aesthetically significant national film registry library congress new orleans police department went strike official parade canceled moved surrounding community jefferson parish louisiana significantly fewer tourist usual came city masking costuming celebration continued anyway national guard troop maintaining order guardsman prevented crime person property made attempt enforce law regulating morality drug use reason french quarter bohemian community recall city best mardi gras ever new orleans city council passed ordinance required social organization including mardi gras krewes certify publicly discriminate basis race religion gender sexual orientation obtain parade permit public license shortly law passed city demanded krewes provide membership list contrary longstanding tradition secrecy distinctly private nature group protest—and city claimed parade gave jurisdiction demand otherwiseprivate membership lists—the thcentury krewes comus momus stopped parading proteus parade carnival season also suspended parade time returning parade schedule several organization brought suit city challenging law unconstitutional two federal court later declared ordinance unconstitutional infringement first amendment right free association unwarranted intrusion privacy group subject ordinance u supreme court refused hear city appeal decision today new orleans krewes operate business structure membership open anyone pay due member place parade float effect hurricane katrina devastation caused hurricane katrina august caused people question future city mardi gras celebration mayor nagin reelection early tried play sentiment electoral advantage however economics carnival important city revival city government essentially bankrupt hurricane katrina pushed scaled back celebration limit strain city service however many krewes insisted wanted would ready parade negotiation krewe leader city official resulted compromise schedule scaled back less severely originally suggested new orleans carnival schedule included krewe du vieux traditional route marigny french quarter february saturday two weekend mardi gras several parade saturday february sunday th week mardi gras parade followed daily thursday night mardi gras krewe du vieux two westbank parade going algiers new orleans parade restricted saint charles avenue uptown canal street route section city escaped significant flooding krewes unsuccessfully pushed parade traditional midcity route despite severe flood damage suffered neighborhood city restricted long parade could street late night could end national guard troop assisted crowd control first time since louisiana state trooper also assisted many time past many float partially submerged floodwaters week krewes repaired removed trace effect others incorporated flood line damage design float local worked float rode significantly affected storm aftermath many lost possession enthusiasm carnival even intense affirmation life theme many costume float barbed satire usual commentary trial tribulation living devastated city reference included mres katrina refrigerator fema trailer along much mocking federal emergency management agency fema local national politician season endymion parade returned midcity route krewes expanding parade uptown tandem float incident two parade attendees—one nyx parade one endymion parade killed struck run interconnected tandem float towed single vehicle following incident nyx parade call new orleans official address safety issue float including outright ban requiring gap filled using barrier following second death endymion parade february caused parade halted cancelled city official announced tandem float would banned effective immediately vehicle restricted one single float impact covid pandemic unknown participant local leader time carnival season parade running january mardi gras day february coincided increasing spread coronavirus disease covid united state part global epidemic time scrutiny large public gathering yet emerge scrutiny international travel primarily placed emphasis restricting travel china—the country disease originated first case covid louisiana reported march two week end mardi gras subsequently state louisiana saw significant impact pandemic new orleans particular seeing high rate case louisiana state university lsu associate professor susanne straifbourgeoi suggested rapid spread may aided mardi gras festivity researcher university louisiana lafayette determined louisiana fastest growth rate case overtaking new york growth day since first reported case region entire world mayor latoya cantrell stated would cancelled mardi gras festivity provided sufficient warning federal government criticized trump administration downplaying threat amid continued spread covid across country earlynovember cantrell stated celebration would something different mardi gras could canceled outright since religious observance subcommittee mardi gras advisory committee focused covid proposed parade still held strict safety protocol recommendation including enforcement social distancing highly recommending wearing face mask attendee discouraging high value throw order discourage crowding well discouraging consumption alcohol encouraging medium coverage parade allow athome viewing november mayor cantrells communication director beau tidwell announced city would prohibit parade carnival season tidwell stressed mardi gras cancelled would conducted safely allowing parade responsible superspreading event marked first largescale cancellation mardi gras parade since police strike krewes subsequently announced would cancel inperson ball including endymion rex therefore name king queen mardi gras first time since world war ii february response continued concern surrounding recent large crowd quarter variant sarscov shrove tuesday neared mayor cantrell ordered bar new orleans including temporary permit operate restaurant close february february mardi gras prohibited togo drink sale restaurant packaged liquor sale french quarter discourage gathering pedestrian access bourbon street decatur street frenchman street pm claiborne avenue bridge restricted checkpoint accessing business home within area mayor cantrell stated would rather accused much little move caught establishment offguard preparing anticipating business mardi gras parade allowed return december city announced parade would modified route due new orleans police department staffing shortage january mayor cantrell stated kickoff event without doubt mardi gras citing high covid vaccination rate customarily asked resident everything know necessary keep people safe krewe de jeanne darc ceremonially led parade group marcher plague doctor outfit broom tasked sweep plague away city announced covid protocol mardi gras february requires minimum participant parade including marcher performer riding float present proof vaccination negative covid test within past hour krewes chose accept negative test krewes krewe mus also announced plan covid rapid test throw already announced vaccination requirement parade participant ahead official requirement despite presence omicron variant city health director jennifer avegno stated confident mardi gras could conducted normal fashion color traditionally associated mardi gras new orleans purple green gold color first specified proclamation rex organization leadup inaugural parade suggesting balcony draped banner color unknown specific color chosen account suggest initially selected solely aesthetic appeal opposed true symbolism color also meaningful representation purple justice green faith gold power following colorthemed rex parade rex organization retroactively declared three color order symbolized justice power faith errol laborde author marched day god history rex organization presented theory color based heraldry three color correspond heraldic tincture rex goal may create tricolor represent kingdom purple widely associated royalty white already heavily used national flag thus avoided furthermore noted flag green gold purple order complies rule tincture state metal gold silver placed next color color cannot placed next color traditional color commonly addressed purple green gold order—even though order technically violates rule tincture epiphany january recognized start new orleans carnival season since least locally sometimes known twelfth night although term properly refers epiphany eve january evening twelfth day christmastide twelfth night reveler new orleans secondoldest krewe staged parade masked ball date since number group phunny phorty phellows la société pa si secrète de champsélysées krewe de jeanne darc recently begun stage event epiphany well many carnival oldest society independent striker society hold masked ball longer parade public mardi gras season continues shrove tuesday fat tuesday study estimated mardi gras brings million visitor new orleans wednesday night begin druid followed mystic krewe nyx newest allfemale krewe nyx famous highly decorated purse reached super krewe status since founding thursday night start knight babylon another allwomens parade featuring krewe mus parade relatively new membership tripled since start popular throw highly soughtafter decorated shoe trinket theme poking fun politician celebrity friday night occasion large krewe hermes satirical krewe détat parade ending one fastestgrowing krewes krewe morpheus several smaller neighborhood parade like krewe barkus krewe oak several daytime parade roll saturday including krewe tuck krewe isi sunday thoth okeanos krewe midcity first super krewes endymion parade saturday night celebrityled bacchus parade sunday night celebration begin early mardi gras day fall tuesday february march depending date easter thus ash wednesday new orleans zulu parade roll first starting corner jackson claiborne ending broad orleans rex follows zulu turn onto st charles following traditional uptown route napoleon st charles canal st truck parade follow rex often hundred float blowing loud horn entire family riding throwing much traditional bead doubloon numerous smaller parade walking club also parade around city jefferson city buzzard lyon club irish channel corner club pete fountain half fast walking club koe start early day uptown make way french quarter least one jazz band end old city society saint anne journey bywater marigny french quarter meet rex canal street pairodice tumbler ramble bar bar marigny french quarter noon dusk various group mardi gras indian divided uptown downtown tribe parade finery upcoming mardi gras date year see mardi gras date new orleans costume mask seldom publicly worn nonkrewe member day fat tuesday party frequently worn mardi gras law concealing one identity mask suspended day bank closed business place security concern convenience store post sign asking people remove mask entering throw collective term used object thrown float paradegoers common form multicolored string glass bead made czechoslovakia glass bead supplanted less expensive durable plastic bead first hong kong taiwan recently china lowercost bead toy allow floatriders purchase greater quantity throw become numerous common many people lost interest small cheap bead often leaving landed ground larger elaborate metallic bead strand figure animal people object become soughtafter throw david redmonds film cultural economic globalization mardi gras made china follows production distribution bead small factory fuzhou china street new orleans carnival publication redmons book bead body trash public sex global labor disposability mardi gras follows documentary providing ethnographic analysis social harm pleasure consequence toxicity mardi gras bead produce addition toxicity ton plastic eye injury mardi gras parade throw commonplace severe injuries—such fractured skull infant struck coconut—have also known occur new orleans social club gentlemens club play large part mardi gras celebration oldest boston club third oldest united state founded place member congregate partake fashionable card game boston rex royalty chosen among rank pickwick club began public face mistick krewe later officially severed tie still present debutante ball annually louisiana club officially louisiana debating literary association still public facade knight momus stratford club serf face order mythras two main mardi gras parade zulu rex social club parade zulu mostly africanamerican club rex mostly caucasian social club host mardi gras ball starting late january social ball queen parade usually young woman age married high school college king older male member club present court maid young woman aged different division younger child small role ball parade themebeformal neighborhood carnival club ball local bar room exclusion rex black creole african american new orleanians led mutual aid group known tramp adorned william storey tin crown banana stalk scepter named king zulu display meant mockery rex overstated pageantry time zulu became grand parade right indication zulu increase prestige krewe named new orleans native son louis armstrong king member court requires much preparation usually month ahead woman girl must dress fitting early may parade season social ball allows little time parade ball generally invitation ball held variety venue city large small depending size budget organization late th early th century french opera house leading venue new orleans ball mid th century hurricane katrina municipal auditorium city famous site carnival ball recent year ballroom various hotel throughout city largest super krewes use larger venue bacchus morial convention center endymion superdome one many mardi gras throw krewes fling crowd doubloon large coin either wood metal made mardi gras color artist h alvin sharpe created modern doubloon school design actual name rex organization according krewe history january sharpe arrived office captain krewe handful aluminum disc upon entering office threw doubloon captain face prove would safe throw float standard krewe doubloon usually portray krewes emblem name founding date one side theme year parade ball side royalty member court may throw specialty doubloon special riding lieutenant doubloon given men horseback rex parade last decade krewes minted doubloon specific float krewes also mint special doubloon cloisonné pure silver member never throw float original rex doubloon valuable nearly impossible aficionado find certified original doubloon school design begin dating doubloon year introduction flambeau pronounced flahmbo meaning flametorch carrier originally electric lighting served beacon new orleans parade goer better enjoy spectacle night parade first flambeau carrier slave today flambeau connection new orleans version carnival valued contribution many people view flambeaucarrying kind performance art – valid assessment given wild gyration flourish displayed experienced flambeau carrier parade many individual descended long line carrier parade commonly feature flambeau include babylon bacchus chaos le krewe detat druid endymion hermes krewe mus krewe orpheus krewe proteus saturn sparta flambeau powered naphtha highly flammable aromatic tradition flambeau carrier pas parade toss quarter thanks carrying light carnival st century though handing dollar bill common rex formed create daytime spectacle resident city special guest grand duke alexei alexandrovich russia rex motto pro bono publico—for public good one famous sought throw zulu coconut also known golden nugget mardi gras coconut coconut mentioned far back given natural hairy state coconut thrown cheap alternative especially bead throw made glass krewe zulu threw coconut threw walnut painted gold name golden nugget originally came thought zulu switched walnut coconut early local painter lloyd lucus started paint coconut coconut two decoration first painted gold added glitter second painted like famous black zulu face city forbade zulu throwing coconut due risk injury handed onlooker rather thrown year local electronics engineer willie clark introduced upgraded version classic naming mardi gras coconut new coconut first used club giving souvenir royalty city notable aguardiente de ojén e simply ojen ohhen known english spanish anisette traditionally consumed new orleans mardi gras festivity ojén original spanish town produced production stopped year started early mean distillery company dominique mertens impex sl due cancellation parade due covid pandemic practice decorating home style parade float emerged alternative dubbed home float house float concept popularized immediately announcement inperson parade would prohibited stemming post twitter megan boudreaux later established formal krewe house float participant listed interactive map website local resident tour revised celebration nicknamed yardi gras resident even dog parade held mystic krewe mardi paw covington opted make dog house float wearing less clothing considered decent context mardi gras documented since timesdemocrat decried degree immodesty exhibited nearly female masquerader seen street risqué costume including body painting fairly common practice exposing female breast exchange mardi gras bead however mostly limited tourist upper bourbon street area crowded street french quarter generally avoided local mardi gras day flasher balcony cause crowd form street last decade th century rise producing commercial videotape catering voyeur helped encourage tradition woman baring breast exchange bead trinket social scientist studying ritual disrobement found mardi gras instance bodybaring exchange bead favor faubourg marigny mardi gras costume french quarter mardi gras costume mardi gras mambo french quarter festival fantasy fest boeuf gras carnival new orleans history mardi gras vintage modern picture mardi gras unmasked definitive mardi gras king cake history mardigrascom web site affiliated new orleans timespicayune newspaper mardi gras celebration photo