Mardi Gras - At a Glance
Name
Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday," or Shrove Tuesday. The term "Carnival," also used at times, is from the Italian, and can be translated as "taking away the meat" or "putting away the flesh." In recognition of the connection to the Christian celebration of Lent, the Bouef Gras, or Fatted Ox, is a feature of the Rex Parade, symbolizing the last meat eaten before Lent begins.
Mardi Gras is also described as "The Greatest Free Show on Earth" in recognition of the fact that it is completely sponsored by the citizens of Louisiana communities who mount the many parades, balls and associated activities each year.
DatesThe season begins January 6 on the Twelfth Night Feast of the Epiphany, which honors the day the three kings visited the Christ Child, twelve days after Christmas. The date of Mardi Gras is set 46 days before Easter and always falls the day before Ash Wednesday. At midnight, it's all over and many celebrants enter Catholic churches to receive the symbolic ash mark of penitence.
Calendar
2005 February 8 2006 February 28 2007 February 20
March 3, 1699, was the first mention of Mardi Gras in Louisiana history. Pierre LeMoyne, Sieur d'Iberville, was camped on the Mississippi River 60 miles south of present-day New Orleans. In honor of Mardi Gras, he named the spot on which he was encamped Point du Mardi Gras.
Lundi GrasTranslation: Fat Monday, or the day before Mardi Gras. At the Spanish Plaza fronting the Mississippi River, New Orleans hosts a big party to welcome Rex, the king of Mardi Gras, who arrives on a riverboat, signaling the start of his Mad Rule. The Proteus Parade swings by and live entertainment and spectacular fireworks are featured. If you go, however, you must wear a mask - it's your price of admission.
Colors/Song
Purple stands for justice, green for faith and gold for power. They were introduced into the tradition of Mardi Gras with the first parade of Rex, the King of Carnival, in a daytime parade on February 13, 1872. In the first daytime parade, Rex also introduced the theme song of Mardi Gras, "If Ever I Cease to Love."
If ever I cease to love,
If ever I cease to love,
May the fish get legs,
And the cows lay eggs,
If ever I cease to love.The song was taken from the burlesque play of the time, Blue Beard, which starred a certain Miss Lydia Thompson. Coincidentally, New Orleans was visited at that time by the Grand Duke Alexis Alexandrovitch Romanoff who, according to rumor, was there to pursue Miss Thompson.
ParadesNo central theme exists for Mardi Gras. Each krewe - the name for the private clubs who sponsor the balls and parades - selects its own, usually historical, legendary or mythological in nature. There is a title float, the King's float, and from 15 to 37 additional floats. Besides the krewe members who ride the floats and toss thousands of dollars worth of beads, trinkets, doubloons (commemorative coins) and assorted special gifts for friends spotted in the crowds, the parades feature up to 3,000 participants, including bands, clowns, dancers and the like.
Variations are found throughout Louisiana, in particular in the communities that feature the Courir de Mardi Gras (the Running of the Mardi Gras). The towns of Elton and Mamou are examples.
From the many floats parading during the weeks prior to Mardi Gras, 2-3 million cups, over 2 million gross of beads and more than 20 million doubloons will be tossed to answer the cry of parade watchers. "Throw me something, Mister."
Parade schedules are printed daily in the New Orleans Times-Picayune and guides can be purchased. Rex and the Knights of Momus, a Carnival krewe, first paraded in 1872 and the Mistick Krewe of Comus initiated the street pageant style that marks today's Mardi Gras. Theirs was a torchlit parade with the theme, "The Demon Actors in Milton's Paradise Lost." More than 65 Carnival Krewes are found in New Orleans and many more across Louisiana.
Celebrities of every stripe are drawn to Mardi Gras (Bacchus features a well-known personality). In 1950, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor attended and the year before, jazz musician Louis Armstrong was King Zulu.Balls
Lafayette, the French-speaking capital of Louisiana, hosts the most elaborate parades outside New Orleans, and crowned their first king in 1897. The Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association Pageant and Ball in Lafayette is open to the public, unlike most such affairs (some are part of the debutante season - strictly black tie and very private). For information, contact the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce at 337-233-2705 (no charge for tickets).
The Endymion Extravaganza in New Orleans offers tickets through Ticket Master (504-522-5555) and at the extreme opposite end of the state, Shreveport-Bossier City has a number of ticketed events.
