Many people may think that the entire New Orleans carnival season is one long Mardi Gras celebration, but it is not. “Mardi Gras” is really just a one-day event and takes place on a date aptly named “Fat Tuesday.” This is actually the last of the holidays for people of the Catholic faith before “Ash Wednesday” is issued in the darkest and most penitent period of Lent. As if to remind everyone of the celebration, purple, gold, and green are the traditional colors of Mardi Gras.
Once known as Shrove Tuesday, this February event is a unique New Orleans party time that involves wild and raucous fun. If you want to kick back, let your hair down, and let it all hang, then you need to hurry up and join the revelers in the French Quarter. Twelfth Night January 6 really kicks off the exciting festivities and Fat Tuesday is the climax with parades, floats and incredible sights. If you are one of the spectators during this time, it will not be difficult for you to see why some say that the celebration of Mardi Gras has roots in some ancient Roman orgies.
Millions of tourists and partygoers head to the city of New Orleans in January and February to take part in some of the activities. For nearly 300 years, the residents of this popular southern landmark have proven they know how to create a celebration that will wow the masses. Masquerade balls, grand parades and street dances are just a few of the traditions that have thrived in the land of Etouffee, Beignets and Gumbo. An interesting fact is that face masks were actually banned for many years in the early 19th century because people’s behavior had become so risky and wild.
Today, visitors can go to New Orleans in February and on the most famous Tuesday of the American year, you can see anything and everything on the streets of the city. The parades are a colourful, loud and enthusiastic display involving costumed revelers, scantily clad dancers, wild-eyed clowns, balloons and dozens of spectacular floats. If you want a good seat, you will have to claim your place at dawn with a sleeping bag and a thermos of coffee. Intermittent and naughty skin exposure is an integral part of the things you’ll witness on Mardi Gras day.
There are always some brilliant street performers, prominent musicians and marching bands who will be stomping in the parades. The day starts with music, lots and lots of jazz and blues being played all over town. The streets literally come alive as these enthusiastic and talented musicians strut their stuff for all to see and hear.
Then, tens of thousands of costumed revelers and hundreds of floats will move through the city. People riding the floats throw plastic beads and doubloons and people consider it a coup to score these trinkets. If you’re in the crowd, keep in mind that your status for the day is based on how much loot you can get. Bourbon Street is the place to be and you can drink and eat all you want, and don’t miss the drag queen beauty pageants. These luscious divas are ready to compete and will be wearing some of the smuttiest creations you’ve ever dreamed of.
The streets are full of events for Mardi Gras visitors to take part in and many of these are organized by clubs or “Krewes”. A core group of approximately 5 dozen Krewes plans and organizes the parades and costume balls for the event. The oldest of these clubs is known as the Krewe of Comus and has been around since 1857. The Krewe of Rex was started in 1872 and they were responsible for creating a grand parade and appointing a King of Mardi Gras. The reason for these actions was that Alexis Romanoff, the Russian Grand Duke, was visiting the Mardi Gras celebration that year.
Even though Katrina permanently changed the city of New Orleans, the Krewes have kept the Mardi Gras Celebration alive and as uniquely exuberant as ever.
