Cold Beats: Spotlight: Mardi Gras

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Spotlight: Mardi Gras

mardigrasneworleans:
Q: When was the first Mardi Gras?
A: The first Mardi Gras parade was held in New Orleans on February 24, 1857 by the Krewe of Comus. They began the tradition of presenting a parade with floats and following it with a ball for the krewe and their guests.

Q: What is the significance of the Mardi Gras colors, and where did they come from?
A: Rex, the King of Carnival, selected the Mardi Gras colors and assigned meaning to them in 1892. Purple stands for justice, green for faith, and gold for power.

Q: Why are masks worn?
A: By law, float riders must always have a mask on. On Fat Tuesday, masking is legal for everyone else, and the elaborate masks that some wear add to the fun.

Q: How is a king chosen?
A: The method of selecting a king varies from krewe to krewe. Some krewes hold random drawings, while others invite a celebrity guest to be their king.

Rex, the King of Carnival, is chosen by the School of Design, who sponsors the Rex parade. His identity is revealed the day before the parade.

Q: What are Mardi Gras Balls?
A: Balls are private affairs thrown by the krewes for members and invited guests and require formal dress (tuxedos and ball gowns.) They are typically held in the Municipal Auditorium or in hotel ballrooms. Some of the larger krewes, however, have started to hold bigger extravaganzas at the Convention Center and the Superdome.

Q: How long have "throws" been around?
A: The tradition of float riders throwing trinkets to the crowds began in the 1870s, and still continues today. Typical throws include beads, cups, doubloons, and stuffed animal.

Q: How can I find out what this year's Mardi Gras theme will be?
A: There is no official Mardi Gras theme since there is no official Mardi Gras. However, each parade krewe decides upon its own theme each year which can be kept secret until the parade. Their costumes, floats, some of their throws, and their "official" Mardi Gras poster (if they have one) reflect this theme. After 911, patriotic themes were popular.

Most of the krewes are named after figures from Greek, Roman, and Egyptian mythology; some are named after the neighborhood where they parade.

Q: How much does it cost to go to Mardi Gras?
A: It's free! Not only that, but you'll come back home with bags of Mardi Gras beads and throws. That's why we call it the "Greatest Free Show on Earth!"

Q: Who organizes and pays for Mardi Gras?
A: Mardi Gras parade krewes are private non-profit organizations whose members get together year round to plan their parade's theme, costumes, and unique throws. Each Carnival Club, as they are known, is individually funded by its members. They support their krewe through dues, sales of krewe-related merchandise to their members, and fundraising. Mardi Gras parade krewes may not have corporate sponsors.

The city of New Orleans is not involved in coordinating Mardi Gras parades -- their only involvement is to issue parade permits to each individual Mardi Gras krewe who schedules and coordinates their own parades.

Q: I only have limited time. what is the prime time to visit during Mardi Gras?

The weekend before Fat Tuesday is the prime time to visit New Orleans for Mardi Gras. This is the weekend when Bacchus and Endymion, two of the biggest parades of the season, roll down the streets of New Orleans. The streets are packed all day Saturday and Sunday with parade watchers. If you can stay longer than a weekend, Monday (Lundi Gras) and Fat Tuesday are also great days to experience Mardi Gras. Orpheus, another big parade, rolls on Monday night, and the Zulu Lundi Gras festival goes on all day. On Fat Tuesday, walking around the French Quarter and seeing all of the costumes and masks is a unique and thrilling experience.

More information:
» Mardi Gras Indians
» Krewes Parade Schedule
» Live ParadeCam at St. Charles Avenue
» NOLA Radio

1 comments:

Anonymous said...: YOU KNOW IT BRO IT, WHERE DAT MARDI GRAS AT SPIHON BRO! MARGI DRAGS!; February 27, 2012 8:36 PM

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Saturday, February 18, 2012

Spotlight: Mardi Gras

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