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New Orleans Mardi Gras costumes have more in common with “those of Nice, France, and Venice, Italy, both cities with longstanding Carnival traditions,” Smith said. Mardi Gras is a Christian holiday and popular cultural phenomenon that dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites. costume balls and a tradition that empowers women to 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. In 1870, Mardi Gras' second Krewe, the Twelfth Night Revelers, was formed. This is also the first recorded account of Mardi Gras "throws.". Newspapers began to announce Mardi Gras events in advance, and they even printed "Carnival Edition" lithographs of parades' fantastic float designs (after they rolled, of course - themes and floats were always carefully guarded before the procession). There is no pinpointing the origins of the celebration known today as Carnival or Mardi Gras. Indeed, because its most elemental characteristics — drinking and feasting, dancing and music, masks and costumes — extend back into the mists of time, there’s no tidy way to connect the dots between prehistoric cave paintings of dancing stick-like figures wearing animal masks and the modern pre Mardi Gras: Mystery and History Built upon a European foundation, Mardi Gras is a multicultural festival that also reflects Louisiana's African and Caribbean connections. Although Carnival's modern roots can be traced to twelfth-century Rome, it is believed that the medieval pre-Lenten celebration descended from the fertility rituals and The first true origins of colorful costumes during Mardi Gras lay in 1827 when a group of students “danced through the streets of New Orleans” in colorful and fun costumes, influencing the outfits people would eventually wear a decade from then during the first recorded Mardi Gras parade. The origins of Mardi Gras colors, however, can be 1. Krewes . Within two decades after the French explorer Bienville LeMoyne founded New Orleans in 1718, the city’s annual celebrations of Carnival had become an annual event, complete with Is your Mardi Gras costume ready? Whether you’re in the parade or watching from the crowd, costuming has always been part of the New Orleans Carnival tradition. In fact, the earliest written record of a Carnival celebration in New Orleans dates back to Lundi Gras 1730, and the author (a young man) prides himself on his convincing shepherdess The Mardi Gras traditions show off New Orleans’ rich culture. Get ready to be wowed by the creativity and passion that make this celebration so special! The Rich History Behind Mardi Gras Celebrations. The history of Mardi Gras is a captivating story that spans centuries and continents. It started as a simple feast before Lent in medieval Europe. In New Orleans, costuming goes beyond Halloween or theme parties–it’s a way of life. From Mardi Gras Day to Pride, Easter, and more, it seems there is always an excuse to wear a costume in New Orleans. Learn more about the history and when people typically mask in New Orleans. 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 While each worked in the costume design field for their respective krewes, they collectively dreamed of a space to display krewe costumes and history. In 1997, the museum began as a temporary exhibit, expected to be open for six months to a year, and contained enough costumes to fill two classroom spaces in Lake Charles' Historic Central School. 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. On March 2, 1699, French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville arrived at a plot of ground 60 miles directly south of New Orleans, and named it "Pointe du Mardi Gras" when his men realized it was the eve of the festive holiday. Bienville also established "Fort Louis de la Louisiane" (which is now Mobile) in 1702. Fashion has played a role in the design of Carnival costumes since the early years of Mardi Gras. Costumers take inspiration from around the world, from history, from society, and from nature to create one-of-a-kind designs that honor the season’s spirit of extravagance and role-play. Mardi Gras is a time-honored celebration with roots stretching back to Ancient Rome. On the glittering streets of New Orleans, fantasy meets reality as celebrants don their most extravagant costumes and enjoy an over-the-top season packed with parties, rich Mardi Gras foods, and festive drinks before entering into the more somber, reflective, fasting period of Lent. The Great Depression of the 1930s cast a shadow over the festivities, but Mardi Gras endured. The spirit of resilience and community shone through, as people found solace and joy in the celebration, even during difficult times. Mid-Century Mardi Gras: Growth and Expansion. The mid-20th century witnessed a significant expansion of Mardi Gras. The society of St. Anne is a Mardi Gras marching krewe that parades on Mardi Gras Day. In the true spirit of the day, St. Anne does not have a set time or route, but you can usually catch up with them at Anna’s around 10 a.m. or at R Bar later in the day. Those who walk in St. Anne spend all year crafting their costumes and you’ll be The costumes worn during Mardi Gras Day have evolved, reflecting changes in fashion, culture, and society. From medieval Italy’s ornate masks to modern-day New Orleans’s flamboyant outfits, Mardi Gras fashion has a rich and fascinating history. The earliest Mardi Gras costumes can be traced back to the ancient pagan festivals of Europe.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
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