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. 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 is not just for humans; New Orleans hosts a "Krewe of Barkus" parade, where dogs don costumes and join the fun. The largest Mardi Gras float ever built was over 330 feet long and carried more than 200 riders. Mardi Gras in Popular Culture. Mardi Gras has made its mark in popular culture, appearing in movies, music, and literature. 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 before Jean-Baptiste founded New Orleans in 1718. Celebrations in both cities continue today, but whereas New Orleans has krewes, Mobile has mystic societies. Bonus Fun Fact: Mardi Gras is a legal holiday in Louisiana, and has been since 1875, when Governor Warmoth signed the Mardi Gras Act. 2. Your Dog Will Love Mardi Gras. Dogs just want to have fun! And that’s what they get at their very own parades in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, the Northshore and more! These animal-dedicated parades show off the Mardi Gras arrived in North America as a French Catholic tradition with the Le Moyne brothers, who came to defend France's claim on Louisiana. The very first American Mardi Gras took place on March 3, 1699, when French explorers Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Sieur de Bienville landed near present-day New Orleans. They held a small celebration The following year, the tiny settlement celebrated the country’s first Mardi Gras. It didn’t take long for Mardi Gras to find its home in New Orleans, though. New Orleans was established in 1718, and Mardi Gras was celebrated by the 1730s. Mardi Gras Fun Facts – 75 Mardi Gras Fun Facts . Here are 75 fun facts about Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is also known as Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, and Pancake Day. The colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold, which represent justice, faith, and power, respectively. The first Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans took place in 1837. 65 Fun Facts and Trivia About Mardi Gras and How It's Celebrated The Mistick Krewe of Comus is credited with making New Orleans the most popular Mardi Gras destination in the United States Surprising to many people who've never experienced New Orleans' Greatest Free Show on Earth, Mardi Gras (meaning Fat Tuesday in French) is not a one-day celebration (this year Tuesday, March 4th 12. New Orleans became a Mardi Gras hotspot in 1857 when floats were introduced to the city's parade for the first time. 13. Mistick Krewe of Comus introduced floats to New Orleans Mardi Gras parades. Find out what else “The Big Easy” is known for with these fun New Orleans facts. Also read these fun facts about Louisiana, the state where New Orleans is found! General New Orleans Facts. New Orleans is the largest city in the US state of Louisiana and 12 th largest in the Eastern United States. Nine fun facts about Mardi Gras. The purple, green and gold colors were established as the colors of Mardi Gras by the Krewe of Rex in New Orleans in 1892. Green represents faith, purple Here are some interesting facts about Mardi Gras that will give you a better understanding of what is actually going on in New Orleans during the celebration. Holidays - Other By: Jay Adrianna - at January 28, 2015 Another of the little-known facts about New Orleans relating to Mardi Gras is that members of the Krewe of Comus also chose the iconic Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and yellow in 1892. You can still enjoy Mardi Gras parties today, and attending is a great way to try New Orleans food, meet the locals, and learn about the city's culture. New Orleans in particular embraced Mardi Gras with fervor, transforming it into a world-famous spectacle. Today, Mardi Gras is celebrated annually in various forms across the country, uniting communities in a riot of colorful parades, masked revelry, and spirited festivities, and showcasing the enduring power of this vibrant cultural tradition. Krewes are organizations that puts on a parade and/or a ball for Mardi Gras/Carnvial. They are clubs of a sort, with dues ranging from $20 to thousands of dollars annually. Krewes are also responsible for selecting carnival royalty in New Orleans, such as 'Rex', the king of Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is one of the most famous celebrations in New Orleans, drawing visitors from all over. Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday," marks the last day of the Carnival season before Lent. The first Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans took place in 1837. Krewes, social organizations, organize and fund the parades and balls during Mardi Gras. Here are some fun facts about Mardi Gras you’ll want to remember. 1. Mardi Gras didn’t start in New Orleans. While Mardi Gras carnivals are widely associated with New Orleans, Louisiana, the very first celebrations of this nature began over in Mobile, Alabama. The art of celebrating Mardi Gras this way dates all the way back to 1703! 2.
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