Mardi Gras!

 

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is the celebration before Lent that begins on Ash Wednesday.  It also marks the end of a week long event known as Carnival.

While it is now a Christian holiday, the tradition dates back to pagan celebrations of spring and fertility, and the parties in New Orleans are certainly more than a religious gathering.

We've all heard of throwing beads from the floats, but while listening to a live feed I became aware of coconut throws.  These come from the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, one of the oldest traditionally African-American krewes.  

Krewes were established in the 1830's to bring order to the chaotic and drunken parades.  The first was the Mystic Krewe of Comus.  Among the most famous is the Krewe of Rex, founded in 1872.  Since then, a prominent person is chosen each year to be Rex, the King of Carnival.

The Krewe of Rex began bead throwing, and they chose their colors from the Russian Grand Duke Alexis' royal home.  Purple signified justice, green for faith, and gold for power.

A necessity in the 19th century were torches, and the original flambeaux carriers were slaves and free men of color.  Crowds lining the parade route would toss coins to them, a tradition that still continues.  But now the flames are a performance art.

Laissez les bon temps rouler.