Many people may think that all of the New Orleans' Carnival Season is one long Mardi Gras Festival but it isn't. "Mardi Gras" is really just a one-day event and is held on a very appropriately named date, "Fat Tuesday." This is actually the last of the feast days for people of the Catholic faith before "Ash Wednesday" issues in the more somber and 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 uniquely New Orleans party time that involves wild and raucous fun. If you want to cut loose, let your hair down and let it all hang out then you need to rush down and join the revelers in the French Quarter. The January 6th date of Twelfth Night really is the introduction of the exciting festivities and Fat Tuesday is the climax with parades, floats and unbelievable sights. If you are one of the spectators during this time, you will not be hard pressed to see why some say the Mardi Gras Festival has roots in some ancient Roman orgies.
Millions of tourists and dedicated party lovers head to the city of New Orleans in January and February so that they can take part in some of the activities. For almost 300 years, the residents of this popular Southern landmark have shown that they know how to create a celebration that will stun the masses. Costumed or masked balls, grand parades, and street dancing are only a few of the traditions that have thrived in the land of Etouffee, Beignets and Gumbo. One interesting tidbit is that face masks were actually outlawed for many years in the early 1800s because people's behavior had become so risqu and wild.
Today, visitors can go to New Orleans in February and on the most famous Tuesday of the American year, you can see everything and anything on the streets of the town. The parades are a colorful, loud, and enthusiastic display involving costumed celebrants, scantily clad dancers, wild-eyed clowns, balloon, and dozens of spectacular floats. If you want a good seat, you will have to claim your site in the wee hours of dawn with a sleeping bag and thermos of coffee. Flashing and naughty skin exposure is all part and parcel of the things you will witness come Mardi Gras day.
There are always some brilliant street performers, musicians and outstanding marching bands that will be stepping lively in the parades. The day begins with music, lots and lots of jazz and blues that is performed throughout the city. Streets literally come alive when these enthusiastic and talented musicians strut their stuff for all to see and hear.
Tens of thousands of costumed revelers and hundreds of floats will then move through the city. Beads and plastic doubloons are tossed from people riding on the floats and people consider it a coup to score these trinkets. If you are in the crowd, be advised that your status for the day is based on how much loot you can snag. Bourbon Street is the place to be and you can drink and eat to your heart's content, and don't miss the drag queen beauty contests. These luscious divas are out to compete and they will be wearing some of the bawdiest creations you have ever dreamed of.
The streets are full of events for Mardi Gras visitors to participate in and many of these are organized by clubs or "Krewes". A core group of about 5 dozen Krewes plan and organize the parades and costume balls for the event. The oldest of these clubs is known as the Krewe of Comus and has been in existence since 1857. The Krewe of Rex was begun in 1872 and they were responsible for creating a huge parade and naming a King of Mardi Gras. The reason for these actions was because Alexis Romanoff, the Russian Grand Duke, was making a visit at that year's Mardi Gras Festival.
Even though Katrina permanently changed the town of New Orleans, the Krewes have kept the Mardi Gras Festival alive, well, and as uniquely exuberant as ever.
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