|
Server : Apache/2.4.62 System : FreeBSD fbsdweb2.web.rcn.net 14.1-RELEASE FreeBSD 14.1-RELEASE releng/14.1-n267679-10e31f0946d8 GENERIC amd64 User : www ( 80) PHP Version : 8.3.8 Disable Function : NONE Directory : /domains/lover/ |
Upload File : |
<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="description" content="Your complete New Orleans Mardi Gras Pocket Guide">
<meta http-equiv="keywords" content="Mardi Gras, New Orleans, Mardi Card, Mardi Cards">
<title>History of Mardi Gras</title>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFCCFF" link="#008000" VLINK="#800080" ALINK="#FFCD00" TEXT="#800080" BACKGROUND="mask3bkg.jpg">
<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
<!--
function menu(list)
{
location.href = list.options[list.selectedIndex].value
}
// -->
<!-- Hide from old browsers
function POP(u,n,w,h,f){
windowFeatures = "width="+w+",height="+h;
if (f) windowFeatures += ","+f;
popwin = this.open(u, n, windowFeatures);
if (!popwin.opener) popwin.opener=self;
if (popwin.focus) popwin.focus();
}
//-->
</script>
<SCRIPT language="javascript">
</SCRIPT>
<div align="center"><center>
<table width=350 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0>
<tr valign=top><td width=350 colspan=3>
<Center>
<form name="links">
<select>
<option value="/a-jazz.htm"SELECTED>Please Make your Selection
<option value="/mg-hist.htm">Mardi Gras -- What Is It?
<option value="/mg-dates.htm">Mardi Gras -- Future Dates
<option value="/products.htm">Louisiana Products
<option value="/cdrom.htm">Insider CD Offer
<option value="/hotels.htm">Hotels Online
<option value="/food.htm">Restaurants
<option value="http://www.nawlins.com/new_site/visitor/viseventsinfo.cfm">Events
<option value="/maps.htm">New Orleans Maps
<option value="http://www.weather.com/weather/us/zips/70149.html">Weather Forecasts
<option value="http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/columns/horoscope.htm">Horoscopes
<option value="http://www.nola.com/bourbocam/classic/">Bourbon Cams
<option value="http://listings.tvguide.com">TV Listings
<option value="/blkart.htm">Black Art Gallery
<option value="/photogal.htm">Photo & Art Gallery
<option value="/cajun.htm">What is Cajun?
<option value="http://digitalcity.switchboard.com/neworleans/">New Orleans Yellow Pages
</select>
<input type="button" value="GO!" onClick="menu(this.form.elements[0])"><Br><img src="/homepage/images/spacer.gif" width=348 height=6><Br></td>
<td width=1><img src="/homepage/images/spacer.gif" width=1 height=1></form></td></tr>
<tr valign=top><td width=1 colspan=3 bgcolor=#487878><img src="/homepage/images/spacer.gif" width=1 height=2></td></tr>
</table></td></tr>
</table>
</form>
</td>
<td align="center"><font color="#000040" size="1" face="Pegasus">Brought to you by:<br>
<a href="http://www.louisianalover.com">Louisiana Lovers' Portal</a></font></td>
</tr>
</table>
</center></div></td>
</tr>
</table>
</center></div><div align="center"><center>
<table border="0" width="600">
<tr>
<td><p align="left"><font color="#800080" size="6" face="Pegasus">A Mardi Gras History</font><font
color="#800080" face="Pegasus"> </font></p>
<a name="top"><br></a></font>
<font face="Pegasus"><img src="maskface.gif" align="left" hspace="0" width="125" height="175"></font><font
color="#800080" size="6" face="Pegasus">E</font><font face="Pegasus">very year, New Orleans shuts down and throws the party of parties. Everywhere else in the country, it's just another Tuesday. But, in New Orleans it's the Mardi Gras ! </font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Pegasus">Mardi Gras is more than a single day of celebration. It's a state of mind. Mardi Gras reflects and defines the cultural traditions of New Orleans. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">M</font><font face="Pegasus">ost
"visiting revelers" assume Mardi Gras takes place on a single day. This is true. Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday. Some time ago, the tradition was to slaughter a fatted calf on the Tuesday before the beginning of the Lenten 40 day fast. Thus, the coining of the phrase "Fat Tuesday." </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">T</font><font face="Pegasus">here is a distinction, however, between Mardi Gras and Carnival. Mardi Gras is a single day that is the climax for the Carnival season. The Carnival season begins on January 6th or Twelfth Night (Kings Night) and runs until the beginning of Lent- referring to the Easter season and Ash Wednesday). Carnival can run as long as two months, depending on the church calendar. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" size="6" face="Pegasus">M</font><font face="Pegasus">ardi Gras day or Fat Tuesday is the traditional day for masking. However, you'll <img src="crown&prpl0.jpg" align="right" hspace="0" width="150" height="120">find people enjoying this tradition beginning the Friday before Mardi Gras day. Mardi Gras costumes are elaborate. Sequins and feathers rule the day. Families and friends often mask as a group and as you will see, it's not unusual to see a marching box of Crayola Crayons or a bunch of men, bare-chested as firemen, carrying a ten
foot hose. Anything goes on Mardi Gras day. However, the obscenity laws are still on the books. Although, it's amazing what people get away with wearing or, should I say, NOT wearing. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">T</font><font face="Pegasus">he French
Quarter is often called the "adult" Mardi Gras. Costumes can be more than revealing and there are some Carnival traditions (i.e. The chant "Show me your "insert preferred body part here"!) that would land a person in jail on any other day of the year. Police tend to look the other way at most of the stuff that goes on Mardi Gras day. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" size="6" face="Pegasus">T</font><font face="Pegasus">he lower French Quarter (<em> St. Ann & Bourbon Stree</em>t ) is the center for Gay Mardi Gras. This is where you'll find the more extravagant costumes. People come from all over the world just to strut around in costumes of their own design. Of course, going home with a prestigious Bourbon Street Award is often the motivation for their sequined madness. </p>
<p align="left">Although parades roll for weeks before Fat Tuesday, on the Day of Days - parades begin early in the morning with the ever popular Zulu and don't stop until the last float passes late in the night. The highlight of the parades is the toast between the King of Carnival - Rex - and the mayor of New Orleans. This is the official proclamation and beginning of Mardi Gras. During the toast, Rex gives all city workers the day off and commands everyone to have a good time. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus"><img src="mgbgjest.jpg" align="left"
hspace="0" width="150" height="125"></font><font color="#800080" size="6" face="Pegasus">T</font><font
color="#800080" face="Pegasus">he Carnival season is the highlight of the New Orleans social calendar. The season officially begins on Twelfth Night or "Kings Night." Many New Orleanians with artificial Christmas trees will leave them up and replace the Christmas decor with purple, gold and green ornaments. These are the official colors of Carnival. Legend has it that these colors represent - green for faith, gold for power and purple for justice. However, most people believe these colors were chosen, simply, because they look good together. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">Another Carnival tradition that begins on Twelfth Night is the King Cake. A King Cake is a round cake decorated with sweet purple, gold and green frosting. In every King Cake there is a little plastic baby representing the baby Jesus. The person who is lucky enough to bite into the piece of King Cake with the plastic baby gets to buy the next King Cake for the next King Cake party. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">During the Carnival season, Mardi Gras Krewes, local clubs that sponsor parades and Carnival events, hold elaborate Balls and parties where their King, Queen and other Royalty are announced for the year. On its surface, the election of Royalty may seem comical. However, being chosen is a very special honor and is taken very seriously by New Orleanians. Mardi Gras Royalty are elected because of their contributions and standing in the community. Being chosen to represent a Krewe as a King or Queen is an honor that announces to the community at large that these people have made our city a better place and we recognize their hard work and dedication. So, be sure to raise your cup and toast every King and Queen! </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" size="6" face="Pegasus">I</font><font color="#800080"
face="Pegasus">f you don't live in New Orleans, it is impossible to understand all the planning, hard work and expense that go into Carnival. Most Krewes begin planning for Carnival a year or more in advance. People belonging to a Krewe pay dues and spend their own money to stage their parades and to buy throws. This is not an inexpensive venture. The average Mardi Gras Krewe spends hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless hours of donated time to parade for just a few hours. Why do it ? New Orleanians love their city and you just have to ride in a Mardi Gras parade to understand the thrill of throwing stuff to a hungry crowd. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">Although every King and Queen deserve respect, the true King of Carnival is Rex. The identity of Rex is a secret until the day before Mardi Gras. People anxiously await the announcement of the King of Carnival. Being chosen as the King of Rex is the highest honor New Orleans can bestow. The King of Rex is chosen because of his prominent standing in the community. It's a really big deal. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">The Queen of Rex is always a young debutante. It's all very aristocratic. Carnival officially ends when the King and Queen of Rex meet the Queen and King of Comus, at midnight on Fat Tuesday. When they meet, the traditional "Whenever I Cease To Love" theme is played and true New Orleanians eyes fill with tears from memories of Mardi Gras past and the fact that they have to wait another year to have this much fun. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">Once the Royalty of Comus and Rex meet, police take to the street on horseback - followed by street sweepers - announcing that Mardi Gras is over and people should "clear the streets." By this time, most people have had enough and are ready to rest. As soon as the last parade passes, the city begins the incredible task of cleaning up. All the garbage is weighed and this is how New Orleans estimates how many people came to Mardi Gras. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" size="6" face="Pegasus">H</font><font color="#800080"
face="Pegasus">ow Mardi Gras started is not really clear. There are plenty of legends and stories about early Carnival. But, it's not certain which are myth and which are fact. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">Legend has it that the first Mardi Gras came to be because the early Christian church adopted and reformed the Roman feast of Lupercalia, a decadent three days of celebration, in order to convert the pagans. The early Church renamed the holiday to "carnelevamen," meaning "farewell to the flesh." </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">The French coined the phrase Mardi Gras, which means Fat Tuesday , and brought the holiday with them when they settled New Orleans. In fact, in 1699 the French-Canadian explorer Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville landed near the mouth of the Mississippi River on Mardi Gras Day and named the plot of ground "Pointe du Mardi Gras." </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">Early Mardi Gras was not an organized, community event. The holiday was basically celebrated by throwing private, wild parties. After all, New Orleans was and still is a port city - and you know those sailors! </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">On February 24th, 1857, Mardi Gras was changed forever. This was the year that the first true Mardi Gras Krewe was formed. The club called themselves the Mystick Krewe of Comus, after the Greek god of revelry. Comus began the tradition of the elaborate Ball and Carnival parade. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">Over the years, many more Krewes were
founded. It wasn't until the 1950's, however, that the Mardi Gras we know today came into
fruition. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">Probably as a result of the post-war
baby boom, many more Carnival Krewes were formed in the fifties and sixties. Ask any local
and they're bound to have fond memories of riding on a float with their family. Mardi Gras
became a holiday for families to celebrate and spend time with each other. Today, Mardi
Gras remains a time to gather with family and friends. In fact, people are expected to
open their homes to friends and family if they live within walking distance of the
parades. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">In New Orleans, the more family
oriented Carnival has moved into the suburb of Metairie. The rise in the number of Krewes and the population shift to the suburbs has created, really, two distinct Carnival traditions. Parades roll in New Orleans and in Metairie. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">The parades that roll in New Orleans are either "old line" krewes like Rex or, what have come to be known as, "superkrewes." The "superkrewes" began in 1969 with the founding of Bacchus - named for the god of wine. The city was stunned by the enormous floats designed by Blaine Kern (now a world famous designer of floats and other ornaments). In addition, this Krewe allowed anyone who paid dues to be a member. It didn't matter if you could trace your ancestry back to the buccaneers. The first King of Bacchus broke the most serious tradition. The King wasn't a community leader but Danny Kaye, a Hollywood star. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">Today, Bacchus has become one of the largest and best parades in New Orleans and rolls the Sunday before Mardi Gras. Every year a different celebrity is made King and rides a special float. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">The founding of Bacchus started a new tradition. Soon after the debut of this incredible parade, other superkrewes were founded. Endymion, which rolls on the Saturday night before Mardi Gras, was established in 1974. Endymion throws a party called the "Extravaganza" and tickets to this event are cherished and hard to come by. The Extravaganza is a party held in the Superdome for some 10,000 people. Entertainment is provided by some of the top names in the business. In 1995, the 1,500 member Krewe of Endymion introduced the largest Mardi Gras float ever! With the theme Welcome To The New Orleans Mardi Gras this float rolled with 150 maskers on board. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus">In 1994, Harry Connick Jr., a national
celebrity and New Orleans native, began a new superkrewe called Orpheus that rolls on Lundi Gras - the Monday before Fat Tuesday. This Krewe is destined to become one of New Orleans favorites. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus"><img src="mg-danny.jpg" align="left"
hspace="5" width="116" height="174">In Metairie, the krewes that parade are usually groups of people that started clubs for their families. The parades in Metairie have become more sophisticated and larger over the years and some of them rival the best New Orleans parade. However, most of the parades in Metairie rent their floats and you tend to see the same floats (modified a little) rolling night after night. But, if you want to keep away from the more rowdy New Orleans crowd, Metairie is a nice alternative. -- </font></p>
<p align="left"><font color="#800080" face="Pegasus"> </font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td align="center"></td>
</tr>
</table>
</center></div></td>
</tr>
</table>
</center></div>
<div align="left">
<table border="0">
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
<BR><center><table width=350 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0>
<tr valign=top><td width=350 colspan=3>
<Center>
<form name="links">
<select>
<option value="/a-jazz.htm"SELECTED>Please Make your Selection
<option value="/mg-hist.htm">Mardi Gras -- What Is It?
<option value="/mg-dates.htm">Mardi Gras -- Future Dates
<option value="/products.htm">Louisiana Products
<option value="/cdrom.htm">Insider CD Offer
<option value="/hotels.htm">Hotels Online
<option value="/food.htm">Restaurants
<option value="http://www.nawlins.com/new_site/visitor/viseventsinfo.cfm">Events
<option value="/maps.htm">New Orleans Maps
<option value="http://www.weather.com/weather/us/zips/70149.html">Weather Forecasts
<option value="http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/columns/horoscope.htm">Horoscopes
<option value="http://www.nola.com/bourbocam/classic/">Bourbon Cams
<option value="http://listings.tvguide.com">TV Listings
<option value="/blkart.htm">Black Art Gallery
<option value="/photogal.htm">Photo & Art Gallery
<option value="/cajun.htm">What is Cajun?
<option value="http://digitalcity.switchboard.com/neworleans/">New Orleans Yellow Pages
</select>
<input type="button" value="GO!" onClick="menu(this.form.elements[0])"><Br><img src="/homepage/images/spacer.gif" width=348 height=6><Br></td>
<td width=1><img src="/homepage/images/spacer.gif" width=1 height=1></form></td></tr>
<tr valign=top><td width=1 colspan=3 bgcolor=#487878><img src="/homepage/images/spacer.gif" width=1 height=2></td></tr>
</table></td></tr>
</table>
</form>
</td>
<td align="center"><font color="#000040" size="+2" face="Pegasus">Brought to you by:<br>
Louisiana Lovers' Portal & Treasures</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<center> <A HREF="http://www.lalover.com/a-jazz.htm" TARGET="mainpage"><IMG SRC="a-home.gif" WIDTH=100 BORDER=0></a></center><br>
</body>
</html>