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Mystick Krewe of Comus's initial invitation for members Bernard de Marigny de Mandeville. Building on the initial work of what French Creole American nobleman, and playboy, Bernard de Marigny had done in 1833, funding and organizing the first official Mardi Gras- a "parade" followed by a tableau ball celebration; [3] [4] [5] in December 1856, six Anglo-American men of New Orleans gathered at The parade was a huge success, and Comus continued to lead Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans for years to come. Today, Mardi Gras is a major event in New Orleans, drawing visitors from all over the world to enjoy the festivities. In 1699, the French explorer Iberville and the American explorer Mardi Gras arrived in America. Prior to the The Most Exclusive Mardi Gras Krewes. Krewe of Comus (Founded 1857) – The oldest Mardi Gras krewe, Comus introduced New Orleans to the concept of a themed parade and remains one of the most secretive groups. Unlike many modern krewes, Comus does not allow public membership, and its Twelfth Night Ball is an invitation-only event attended by By the mid-1850s, Mardi Gras in New Orleans was a rough and rowdy affair that threatened the very existence of the festival. From the imagination of several men sprang the scheme for a lavish parade. The result, in 1857, was the Mistick Krewe of Comus – the prototype of organized Carnival parades and balls, known to this day. When first established, Mardi Gras revelries in New Orleans were raucous, sometimes violent, and largely attended by the Catholic Creole community. In 1857, six of the city's leading Protestant businessmen banded together to form the secret society, the Mistick Krewe of Comus, based on a character created by poet John Milton. It’s that magical time of year when Carnival season descends on the city. the Mardi Gras ladders get dusted off, you can stock up on your collection of Mardi Gras cups, and king cakes are everywhere you turn. Mardi Gras has been a time honored tradition since the 1730s, slowly evolving into the Mardi Gras we know today. Since we’re in the beginning of Carnival season, we’d thought we’d In 1857, an American named John Pope established the Gem Saloon committee, a group of wealthy white American men who sought to reform Mardi Gras. They formed the Mystick Krewe of Comus, the first official Mardi Gras parading krewe. Comus took Mardi Gras balls from the Creoles and made them exclusively for rising American aristocrats. This exhibit showcases the New Orleans Mardi Gras Mistick Krewe of Comus in narrative and history. First-hand accounts from Mark Twain to Comus's first royal court to their grand tableaux are all described in detail with visual display. The history of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Mistick Krewe of Comus in narrative and history is also featured. This exhibit showcases the New Orleans Mardi Gras Mistick Krewe of Comus in narrative and history. First-hand accounts from Mark Twain to Comus's first royal court to their grand tableaux are all described in detail with visual display. The history of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Mistick Krewe of Comus in narrative and history is also featured. Mardi Gras parades. The first Comus parade was held on Mardi Gras 1857, and this became an annual event. Other organizations sprang up in New Orleans in the 19th century, inspired by the Comus model, and also came to be known as Krewes. Parading on Mardi Gras night, Comus was the final parade of the carnival season for over 100 years. A brief history of the Mystick Krewe of Comus, the original New Orleans Mardi Gras Krewe, and how they are celebrated to this day despite their racist grand The Rex Ball. The Rex Ball brings Mardi Gras to a glittering conclusion, combining music, traditional pageantry, processions, marches, and dancing. In recent years the Rex Ball has been held in New Orleans' Sheraton Hotel, and the Comus Ball has been held across Canal Street at the Marriott Hotel. The inspiration for the name of the group came from John Milton's Lord of Misrule in his masque Comus. One Mardi Gras historian describes the Mistick Krewe's creation in New Orleans thus: "It was Comus who in 1857 saved and transformed the dying flame of the old Creole Carnival with his enchanter's cup; it was Comus who introduced torch-lit and The captain of the Mistick Krewe of Comus (center left) the presents Queen Jessie Wing Sennott to the king, standing at rear with his pages, at the krewe’s ball in 1962. Comus traditionally keeps the identities of the king and captain a secret. HNOC, 1987.2.7 The grand finale of Mardi Gras 2024 came Shrove Tuesday evening with the traditional Meeting of the Courts of the Mistick Krewe of Comus and Rex during the Comus bal masque at the Marriott Hotel. The grand finale of Mardi Gras 2022 came Shrove Tuesday with the traditional “Meeting of the Courts” of the Mystick Krewe of Comus and Rex during the Comus bal masque at the Marriott Hotel. WYES presents the 2024 Rex Ball along with the historic Meeting of the Courts of Rex and Comus on Mardi Gras night. Comus, founded in 1857, is New Orleans’ oldest Carnival organization. It stages its pageantry on the same evening as Rex, founded in 1872. WYES host and producer Peggy Scott Laborde, along with Errol Laborde, Carnival historian and author of Mardi Gras: Chronicles of the New Orleans Carnival and Will French, Rex Organization historian, provide commentary throughout the evening. The live program contains interviews with past and present Rex and Comus royalty along with historical Early Mardi Gras Balls . Mardi Gras balls have been around since Louisiana was a French colony. Just as we do today, Creole society kicked off the season on Twelfth Night with the King’s Ball (the Bal de Roi). The highlight of the evening was the cutting of the King Cake (the Gateau des Rois). Brian Costello, author of Carnival in Louisiana: Celebrating Mardi Gras from the French Quarter to the Red River, writes, "The Carnival season and Mardi Gras day trace their roots from the Bacchanalia and Saturnalia ritual promiscuity of Roman times. With the spread of Christianity, similar revelry occurred during the period of carnival (Latin
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Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
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