Mardi Gras is an annual holiday celebrated in New Orleans, Louisiana and through out the neighboring counties and Gulf Coast. It starts on January 6 and ends on Mardi Gras Day otherwise known as Fat Tuesday.
The tradition actually goes all the way back to the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe. From Rome and Venice it then went on to France, then was taken on to the French colonies.
In the 1740's the governor of Louisiana, Marquis de Vaudreil presided over grand society balls for celebrations, similar to the balls held in the present day.
In the 1740's the governor of Louisiana, Marquis de Vaudreil presided over grand society balls for celebrations, similar to the balls held in the present day.
In 1872 Rex was created by some local businessmen and crowned as The King Of Carnival to reign over the first Mardi Gras daytime parade.
Secret societies were formed that would put together parade floats and entertainment. These are the predecessors of today's Mardi Gras krewes. Krewes are a group of people who come together to participate in the parades in costumes with floats and have a section in the parade.
In 1894, the first Black Mardi Gras krewe was formed, called the Original Illinois Club.
Mardi Gras coincides with the Carnival season and ends before Ash Wednesday and the Catholic tradition of Lent. It is a fun, sometimes raucous celebration before the time of fasting and prayer prior to Easter.
Click here for more Mardi Gras history!
Thanks for reading. Feel free to leave comments below.
Sondra Carpenter
The Mardi Gras Girl
Thanks. I was in New Orleans some ten years ago on business participating at the Photographic expo. Luckily, it was the time of Mardi Gras, so all of us had a very chance to be a part of it where lots of people were having such fun on the street ... carnival. Cheers, Normy
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