Each year the New Orleans Carnival season starts on January 6, known in England as Twelfth Night. The Twelfth Night Revelers, New Orleans second oldest Krewe, hold a masked ball each year to mark the beginning of New Orleans Carnival season. Many of Carnivals oldest societies, such as the Independent Strikers Society, hold masked balls but no longer parade in public. Weekend before New Orleans Mardi Gras[edit] The population of New Orleans more than doubles with visitors this day. Thursday night starts off with a bang with an all-womens parade featuring the Krewe of Muses. The parade is relatively new, but its membership has tripled since its start in 2001. It is popular for its throws (highly sought after decorated shoes and other trinkets) and themes poking fun at politicians and celebrities. Friday night is the occasion of the large Krewe of Hermes and satirical Krewe DÉtat parades, ending with one of the fastest growing krewes, the Krewe of Morpheus There are several smaller neighborhood parades like the Krewe of Barkus and the Krewe of OAK. Several daytime parades roll on Saturday (including Krewe of Tucks and Krewe of Isis) and Sunday (Okeanos Krewe of Mid-City and Thoth). The first of the super krewes, Endymion, parades on Saturday night, with the celebrity-led Bacchus parade on Sunday night. Lundi Gras[edit] Monday was recently declared to be as Lundi Gras (Fat Monday). The monarchs of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club and Krewe of Rex, who will parade the following day, arrive by boat on the Mississippi River front at the foot of Canal Street, where an all-day party is staged. Uptown parades start with the parade of one of New Orleans most prestigious organizations, the Krewe of Proteus. Dating back to 1882, it is the second oldest krewe still parading in the city. The Proteus parade is followed by a newer organization, the music-themed super-Krewe of Orpheus, which is considered less prestigious as it draws a significant portion of its membership from outside the City. Mardi Gras[edit] The celebrations begin early on Mardi Gras. New Orleans revised schedule means Mardi Gras can fall on any Tuesday between February 3 and March 9 (depending on the date of Easter). In New Orleans, uptown, the Zulu parade rolls first, followed by the Rex parade, which both end on Canal Street. A number of smaller parading organizations with truck floats follow the Rex parade. Numerous smaller parades and walking clubs also parade around the city. The Jefferson City Buzzards, the Lyons Club, the Irish Channel Corner Club, Pete Fountains Half Fast Walking Club and the KOE all start early in the day Uptown and make their way to the French Quarter with at least one jazz band. At the other end of the old city, the Society of Saint Anne journeys from the Bywater through Marigny and the French Quarter to meet Rex on Canal Street. The Pair-O-Dice Tumblers rambles from bar to bar in Marigny and the French Quarter from noon to dusk. Various groups of Mardi Gras Indians, divided into uptown and downtown tribes, parade in their finery. For upcoming Mardi Gras Dates through 2050 see Mardi Gras Dates. Costumes and masks[edit] Reveler, Mardi Gras morning in the Bywater neighborhood, 2004 In New Orleans, costumes and masks are seldom publicly worn by non-Krewe members on the days before Fat Tuesday (other than at parties), but are frequently worn on Mardi Gras. Laws against concealing ones identity with a mask are suspended for the day. Banks are closed, and some businesses and other places with security concerns (such as convenience stores) post signs asking people to remove their masks before entering. .
Posted on: Sun, 23 Mar 2014 09:27:49 +0000
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