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Mobile Carnival poster from 1900. Floats lining up for an Order of Inca parade in 2007. Mardi Gras is the annual Carnival celebration in Mobile, Alabama.It is the oldest official Carnival celebration in the United States, started by Frenchman Nicholas Langlois in 1703 when Mobile was the capital of Louisiana. Carnival, American Style: Mardi Gras at Mobile and New Orleans. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1990. "Mardi Gras in Mobile: Excerpts from the 1908 Diary of Young Visitor, Senta Jones." Gulf Coast Historical Review 11 (Spring 1996): 69-76. Mardi Gras Vertical Files, Mobile Public Library Local History and Genealogy Section, Mobile, Alabama. Although The Big Easy in Louisiana is perhaps best-known for its Mardi Gras revelry, the port city of Mobile, Alabama, founded in 1702 by French settlers, lays claim to being the city that first Start your Mardi Gras adventure in Mobile at the Mobile Carnival Museum. The Mobile Carnival Museum highlights the history of Mardi Gras in its true birthplace - Mobile, Alabama. The museum features 14 galleries, video presentations, a pictorial hallway and an interactive float area - all in a restored historic mansion. Originated in 1703, Mobile is THE birthplace of America's original Mardi Gras. Joe Cain is the man. He brought Mardi Gras back to life after the Civil War by leading an impromptu parade down the streets of Mobile and we've been doing it ever since. He has a whole day dedicated to him during Julian Rayford, the famed folklorist whose efforts created the modern-day Joe Cain Day celebration during Mobile's Mardi Gras, speaks during the 1980 event in Bienville Square in downtown Mobile Mobile’s Mardi Gras traditions trace back to 1703 when French settlers held the first celebration to commemorate their first year of survival in the community they built. Today, the lively festivities showcase a variety of cultural influences and feature parades, elaborate costumes and other prized traditions. Related Reading: History of the Mardi Gras King Cake. Fun Facts About Mardi Gras in Mobile . 1. The celebration’s traditional motif is green, purple, and gold. Gold and purple have always been the colors of Mardi Gras in Mobile. Purple has long been associated with European royal dynasties. It is also the liturgical color of Lent in Christianity. Despite these difficulties, enough of the routes were cleared to continue Mardi Gras celebrations, and Mobile had the largest Mardi Gras in its history following the storm. The following year, the 2007 Mardi Gras season in Mobile was attended by roughly 900,000 people, with police estimating the overall attendance at 878,000 and a crowd of While Mardi Gras is commonly intertwined with New Orleans, the true history of where the celebrations started lay in Mobile, AL, around 1703, making it an over 300-year-old tradition. Whether you live around Daphne, Fairhope, or other Alabama communities, the Mardi Gras tradition remains alive and well near Spanish Fort, AL. 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. The seven symbols for Mardi Gras are king cakes, Mardi Gras masks, parades, Mardi Gras throws, the fleur de lis, Mardi Gras beads, and the official colors of Mardi Gras. Head to our Mardi Gras symbols guide for an in depth look at the history and meanings behind the symbols of Mardi Gras . Explore the 300 years of Mobile, AL history. Learn about the origins of Mardi Gras and the oldest Carnival, or read about the infamous ship, the Clotilda. 600 points = A strand of Mardi Gras beads from Toomey's 1,000 points = A Visit Mobile magnet handcrafted by MuffinJaw Designs Studio Please note: Visit Mobile is not responsible for paying admission fees to the Mobile Carnival Museum and History Museum of Mobile. All associated fees and costs must be paid for by the "Mobile Mardi Gras 3. There's A Reason The Cherished Mardi Gras Confection Is Called "King Cake." King Cake didn't get its name fortuitously. The name "King Cake" was inspired by the Bible story about Three Wise Men, who traveled with gifts for Baby Jesus on the Twelfth Night. Traditionally, the cake is first served on King's Day, January 6th, and continues being served up until the eve of Mardi Gras "to Revelers throw treats to the enthusiastic crowds. Cedric Angeles. For the uninitiated, attending Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama, can be a little like drinking from a fire hose—and in this case, that hose is pumped with 300 years of history and more eccentric traditions than you can count. Mobile, Alabama is the mother of mystics, the original birthplace of Mardi Gras as we know it! Each year, the city and its surrounding communities come together for weeks of parades, masked balls, MoonPies and merry-making leading up to Fat Tuesday, a season that is collectively known as Mardi Gras. The Legend of Mardi Gras Indians: The Mardi Gras Indians are a group of African American men and women who dress up in elaborate feathered and beaded costumes and perform in Mardi Gras parades. According to legend, the tradition of Mardi Gras Indians dates back to the 19th century, when African American slaves in Louisiana were inspired by “The Art and Design of Mardi Gras, ” organized in partnership with the History Museum of Mobile and the Mobile Carnival Museum, is open through May 3 at the Mobile Museum of Art, 4850 Museum Drive in West Mobile. A stunning display of all things Carnival and what’s required behind the scenes to make the magic happen. Mobile’s history as a bustling port city brought together diverse cultures, resulting in a unique blend of food, music, architecture and traditions. In fact, Mobile was the first city in which French settlers introduced Mardi Gras to North America, a celebration that lies at the heart of Mobile’s identity to this day.
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