NEW ORLEANS EVENTS - MARDI GRAS LINGO
You never know what you'll see at Mardi Gras. But some things never change. Many newcomers are surprised to find out just how far back some traditions go. Many date back to before the turn of the last century, and even the Civil War. But there are also new traditions coming along. Here's a quick look at the traditions, symbols and happenings that make Mardi Gras.
It wouldn't be Mardi Gras Without:
BALCONIES
Everyone wants to
watch the Mardi
Gras festivities from
the comfort of a
balcony. In recent
years, balconies have
become one of the
most popular and
expensive places
to participate in
Mardi Gras because you can partake in the excitement without
fighting the crowds.
BALL
Some krewes host masked balls for their entertainment,
and the entertainment of their guests. Some of the balls are
open to the public, while most are private celebrations. Krewe
royalty is traditionally presented during the ball, and each ball
depicts the theme each krewe has chosen for the year's parade.
BEOUF GRAS
French for fatted bull or ox, the ritual slaughter
of the beouf gras symbolized the feasting that occurred
prior to Lent during the Roman Mardi Gras celebrations that
represented a time of relaxation and merriment. The Rex
parade still features a papier-mache beouf gras as a permanent
prop on the floats.
CALL-OUTS
Masked members of krewes send formal
invitations prior to each ball, and the guests are "called out"
from the audience to dance with the krewe member who sent
the invitation.
CAPTAIN
Leader of each Carnival organization
CARNIVAL
The season of merriment that begins on Jan. 6
(Twelfth Night) and ends at midnight on Fat Tuesday.
COLORS
The official colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold. They were selected for the initial Rex parade in 1872 but not for any stated reason. In 1892, another Rex parade designated their symbolic meanings: Green for faith ; Purple for justice; Gold for power.
COURT
– Each krewe has their own royalty, which generally
includes a King, Queen, maids and dukes.
DEN
The krewe's building that can be used for float storage
and building, costume storage, krewe parties and anything else
the krewe requests.
DOUBLOONS
First
thrown by Rex, these small
aluminum coins feature
the krewe's theme, symbol
and motto. Parade riders
throw these keepsakes to
the crowd.
FAT TUESDAY
– Also known
as Shrove Tuesday, this is
the last day of Mardi Gras and the day before Lent. In New
Orleans, it is the climax of the Carnival season.
FLAG
It isn't uncommon to see purple, green and gold flags
waving proudly from the yards of New Orleanians, but only
krewe royalty has the right to bear the Mardi Gras flags with
crowns on them.
FLAMBEAUX CARRIERS
These robed men provided the only
light for nighttime parades by carrying torches.
Invitation – You won't get into a ball without one, so unless
you receive one of these sought after invitations, don't spend
all your Mardi Gras dough on a nice gown or suit!
KING CAKE
This braided pastry is shaped in an open circle.
The inside of the cake is sprinkled with cinnamon, and the top
is decorated in purple, gold and green sugar. It has become
a tradition to bake a small, plastic baby inside the cake, and
whoever gets the baby in their piece must buy the next king
cake.
Randazzo's Camellia City Bakery - www.kingcakes.com
3501 Pontchartrain D., Slidell, 800.684.CAKE
Visit the creator of the mini king cake, complete with a plastic baby, for this year's Mardi Gras treat! Randazzo's Camellia City Bakery offers a number of delicious fillings and shipping to different locations around the country.
KREWE
Any carnival
organization...there are many,
and some parade and host balls
while others choose not to.
Lundi Gras – The day before
Mardi Gras.
MARDI GRAS
This day is the last day of the Carnival season.
French for Fat Tuesday, this celebration is held the day before
the fasting season of Lent begins.
MARDI GRAS INDIANS
Groups of black men formed their
own Mardi Gras organizations, named after Native-American
tribes as a tribute to the segregation and discrimination
African-Americans and Native-Americans shared. The Indians
are outfitted in impressive feathered and beaded costumes that
take all year to hand sew.
MASKING
Before there were organized krewes and parades, New Orleanians celebrated Mardi Gras by donning masks and costumes and taking to the streets. The earliest records of Mardi Gras show that masking was outlawed at various times for various political reasons in the original Louisiana colony, before it became an American territory. For many, masking on Mardi Gras Day is still the highlight of Carnival. The French Quarter fills with an amazing collage of the wildest costumes imaginable.
MYTHOLOGY
Most krewes choose figures from ancient myth
for their names and symbols, including Greek and Roman
gods, and ancient Egyptian and African figures.
NEUTRAL GROUND
This term is cause for confusion! Most
of the people in our country refer to the Neutral Ground as a
median...that grassy area separating lanes of traffic. This area
is host to parade-goers throughout the carnival season. When
immigrants came to New Orleans, they weren't welcomed
by the Europeans and Creoles, so they settled the Central
Business and Arts District, deeming
Canal Street the "neutral ground".
PARADES
A parade can consist
of anything from floats, maskers,
dancers, marching bands, marchers,
horses, motorcycles, cars, trucks
and everything in between! Parades
are one of the most popular
forms of Mardi Gras celebration,
and thousands gather to see the
impressive floats and collect the most
throws.
SECOND LINE
This New Orleans
tradition is a street dance whereby
any and everyone follows the
second line leader waving their
handkerchiefs and mini umbrellas to
the jazz beat.
THROWS
Any item tossed
from parade riders to the crowd,
which include plastic cups, beads,
doubloons and other souvenirs.