Mardi Gras in New Orleans

Timing

Official start of Mardi Gras season is January 6th

Finishes at midnight on Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras Day)

Sporadic parades begin January 6th and become very concentrated about two weeks before Mardi Gras day

A brief history

The date of the first celebration is unclear, but probably in the early 1700s, with music, dancing, masking, and costuming.

1833: The first official celebration was held

1856: founding of the Mystick Krewe of Comus

1875: Mardi Gras recognized as an official state holiday.

1991: Krewes forced to integrate

Krewes

Old Line Krewes: Comus, Momus, Proteus.

Super Krewes: Endymion, Bacchus, Orpheus.

Popular Krewes: Muses, d’Etat, Hermes, Thoth, Knights of Chaos

Rex: King of Carnival

Zulu

Parades

Every parade has a theme

Many krewes make use of satire

Parades consists of floats, marching bands, Flambeaux carriers, specialty vehicles, dance teams

Parades

Parades

Throws: beads, cups, doubloons, stuffed animals,

Costumes and masks (link)

Specialty Throws

Most parades culminate with a ball

Celebrity monarchs

Parades

Mardi Gras Day

Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club

Predominantly African American krewe

Signature throw: Coconut

Disrupts the traditional Rex parade that follows

Mardi Gras Day

Rex: King of Carnival

Parade follows Zulu with traditional throws

Mostly composed of older, white residents of New Orleans

Receives key to city

End of Mardi Gras

The meeting of the courts of Rex and Comus

The official closing of Bourbon St at midnight

True/False Comprehension

Mardi Gras in New Orleans begins on New Year’s Day

There is only one parade route in New Orleans

Food is commonly thrown from parades during Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras Krewes were forced to integrate in 1991

The signature “throw” of Zulu is a decorated coconut

Parade riders aren´t allowed to wear masks

The king of Carnival is announced on January 6th