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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. Fun fact: Comus chose not to parade from 1885-1889, and during this time the Krewe of Proteus took their coveted parade route on Mardi Gras night. When Comus came back in 1890, Proteus refused to change their route, so both parades collided on Canal Street, in a bit of a stand off. 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 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. Comus was the first and only krewe during the conception of Mardi Gras. The secret society, led by six white, Protestant businessmen, was formed with the intention to transform the once rowdy and violent Mardi Gras festivities into something much more sophisticated. 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. 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 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. The theme of the Mistick Krewe of Comus' first procession was "The Demon Actors of 'Paradise Lost.'" Every tradition has a beginning, and New Orleans can trace its modern Mardi Gras tradition to A Krewe of Comus began the Carnival parading tradition in 1857. This parade was in 1955. After last year’s Mardi Gras, James Reiss III, a former Rex and co-chairman of the Mayor's Mardi Gras 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 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 thematic floats to Mardi Gras processions; and it was Comus who ritually closed, and still closes, the The first official Mardi Gras flambeaux debuted with the Mistick Krewe of Comus on Fat Tuesday in 1857. In the beginning, the flambeaux were needed for revelers to see the Carnival parades at night. Originally, the flambeaux carried wooden rudimentary torches, which were staves wrapped with lit pine-tar rags. A letter dated March 13, 2003 from Crystal to Salvadore transferring her great Aunt Mimi’s collection of writings, recordings and notes on the founding of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Mystick Krewe if Comus. New Orleans Mardi Gras Mystick Krewe of Comus founding in 1857 is same year that at the inauguration of U.S. President James Buchanan 50 The Knights of Momus (KoM) was founded in 1872 and was the second-oldest parading Old Line Krewe in New Orleans Carnival after the Mistick Krewe of Comus and is the third oldest krewe to continuously present a tableau ball, after the Twelfth Night Revelers in 1870. New Orleans Mardi Gras, 1907. Illustration showing King's float for Momus parade. What is a Krewe Favor? A krewe favor is any piece of jewelry, ducal, or item that the krewe gave out to their members as a gift for a particular year. This does not include beads, or any form of plastic. What is Mardi Gras paper? Mardi Gras paper is any invitation, ball program, dance card, bulletin, admit card or any paper item that a krewe 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 A champagne toast is exchanged by Comus, god of festive joy and mirth, and his queen as the Krewe of Comus parade halted before the Louisiana Club on St. Charles on Fat Tuesday 1955. Taylor, on the other hand, recognized that as a public event dependent on city funding, Mardi Gras and its Carnival krewes ought to be open to all. Though we want to believe that Dorothy Mae Taylor’s bill demystified Mardi Gras and prevented historic krewes from upholding white privilege, racism and Carnival are still deeply intertwined. Mystick Krewe of Comus. Mardi Gras Memorabilia. Mardi Gras Memorabilia Meet the Collectors Comus. Comus (1857-1929) Comus (1930-1999)
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