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Mardi Gras in New Orleans is quite the spectacle - but there are a lot of hidden secrets and behind-the-scenes magic that bring the celebration to life. Ever wondered what the most coveted throws of Carnival are, or why an array of colorful ladders line St. Charles Avenue? Learn all about Mardi Gras in New Orleans with these 12 fun facts. The famous, elaborate floats from Mardi Gras festivities actually date back to 1857, according to Mardi Gras New Orleans. Though 1857 marked the first time these colorful floats were a part of the New Orleans Mardi Gras parades, street processions were already a tradition. Mardi Gras is a Christian holiday and popular cultural phenomenon that dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites. It's most famously celebrated with parades in New Orleans The History & Traditions of Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras has been celebrated in Louisiana since the 18th century, brought by French settlers. Today’s traditions stem from European carnival customs mixed with local culture, creating a uniquely New Orleans spectacle. About 60 miles from what is now New Orleans, they set up camp on March 3, the day before Lent. In honor of the meaningful date, they named it Point du Mardi Gras. In 1702, Pierre founded Mobile. According to the Mobile Carnival Museum, the first Mardi Gras was celebrated in Mobile in 1703, followed by the first Carnival in 1711. Both occurred New Orleans Social Clubs or Gentlemen's Clubs play a very large part in the Mardi Gras celebration. The oldest is The Boston Club (third oldest in the United States), founded in 1841 as a place for its members to congregate and partake in the fashionable card game of Boston , Rex Royalty is chosen from among its ranks. New Orleans was established in 1718 by Bienville. By the 1730s, Mardi Gras was celebrated openly in New Orleans, but not with the parades we know today. In the early 1740s, Louisiana's governor, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, established elegant society balls, which became the model for the New Orleans Mardi Gras balls of today. Mardi Gras History and Traditions Learn about the famed celebration's cultural roots and traditions. Mardi Gras is so much more special when you understand what you’re celebrating and what each tradition means to the generations of parade-goers who have stood on parade routes before you. Mardi Gras revelers greet a float from the Zulu parade at the corner of St. Charles and Canal Streets in New Orleans, La., on Mardi Gras day Tuesday, Feb. 11, 1997. (AP Photo/Andrew J. Cohoon) Share The first Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans was in 1837. But Mardi Gras parade floats didn’t appear in parades until 1857 when the Mystic Krewe of Comus debuted the first parade float. Since 1857, the Mardi Gras parades have only been cancelled 14 times due mostly to wars and pandemics. Not even Hurricane Katrina could cancel the Mardi Gras Mardi Gras in New Orleans In the heart of New Orleans, where jazz notes linger and the aroma of delectable treats fills the air, King Cakes stand as symbols of joy, unity, and indulgence. These oval-shaped wonders, adorned in royal hues of purple, green, and gold, carry profound significance, symbolizing justice, growth, prosperity, and wealth The History of New Orleans Mardi Gras . Although the date of the first organized celebration of Mardi Gras in New Orleans is debatable, the 1730 account of one Marc-Antoine Caillot (a young clerk sent to Louisiana by the French Company of the Indies) mentions a celebration with music and dance, mask-wearing and costumes—including cross-dressing. Big Chief Demond Melancon wears his Red Cloud suit amongst other members of Mardi Gras Indian tribes [+] during Mardi Gras 2014. In February 2021, the usual bustle of New Orleans’ Canal 10. Mardi Gras is More Than New Orleans. When you hear “Mardi Gras” do you only think of the New Orleans celebration? Think again. Mardi Gras is celebrated around the state! Cajun Mardi Gras can be found in the Lafayette and Eunice area. In Baton Rouge, parades roll many weekends before and during Mardi Gras. The first use of the words "Mardi Gras" in Louisiana was in 1699, when Pierre le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville, named a bend in the river "Pointe du Mardi Gras," in honor of that year's Fat Tuesday. However, Carnival was rarely celebrated in the new colony—the early people of the Big Easy found life in the mud-caked huts and thatched roofs of New Every year, as winter fades and spring approaches, the streets of New Orleans explode with color, music, and celebration. Mardi Gras, the grandest festival in Louisiana, is famous for its parades, beads, masked revelers, and deep cultural traditions. 4: When was the first Mardi Gras? The first Mardi Gras parade was held in New Orleans on Feb. 24, 1857 by the Krewe of Comus. They began the tradition of presenting a parade with floats and following it with a ball for the krewe and their guests. Mardi Gras Dates. 5: What is the significance of the Mardi Gras colors, and where did they come from? While Mardi Gras Day is 40 days before Easter, Carnival season begins a little over a month before Mardi Gras Day. How did an extended party become engrained into the fabric of New Orleans' culture, and what's different about the first Carnival season compared to recent ones? Catch your beads, and grab a seat in your parade chair. As Mardi Gras approaches in New Orleans, maskers and parades take center stage • Feb. 27, 2025, 7:57 AM ET (AP) Super Bowl artist weaves Black Masking culture into vibrant logo and theme art for NFL global stage • Feb. 5, 2025, 4:06 PM ET (AP) Because the whole point of Mardi Gras is to enjoy life's excesses before Lent begins, Creole and Cajun dishes such as jambalaya, gumbo, and red beans and rice are a major part of the celebration. And Mardi Gras just wouldn’t be Mardi Gras without king cake, an oval pastry with a sugary icing in Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold.
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