The first Krewes to parade during Mardi Gras are referred to as "old line krewes". These include the Mistick Krewe , the Krewe of Proteus , Rex , Zulu , Twelfth Night Revelers , and the Knights of Momus . Mardi Gras may have some flashy, star-studded, colossal parades, but the old line krewes maintain their original parade traditions to this day. The “super-krewes” of Carnival begin their parades on the Saturday before Mardi Gras, when the Krewe of Endymion takes to the streets of New Orleans. Endymion is followed by Bacchus on Sunday, Orpheus [] The Krewe of Dionysus was founded in 1985 by a group of Slidell businessmen intent on bringing an old-fashioned, family-oriented Mardi Gras parade to the Camellia City. Dionysus (Bacchus in Roman Mythology) is the ancient Greek god of fertility and wine, According to legend, he had a dual nature It’s that magical time of year when Carnival season descends on the city. the Mardi Gras ladders get dusted off, you can stock up on your collection of Mardi Gras cups, and king cakes are everywhere you turn. Mardi Gras has been a time honored tradition since the 1730s, slowly evolving into the Mardi Gras we know today. Since we’re in the beginning of Carnival season, we’d thought we’d Each krewe is a part of a larger organization called Krewe of Krewes that formed in 1979 when the area's krewes joined together to create a parade for the community's enjoyment. Now the culmination of Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras festivities, The Main Event formerly known as the Krewe of Krewes Parade was first held in 1980. Les Mystérieuses held its second and final ball in 1900, but in the years since a number of all-women krewes have continued to revamp Carnival. In 1941 the Krewe of Venus made history as the first women’s krewe to hold a parade, but it was met with disdain by many bystanders, who threw rotten vegetables at the floats. 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 Named for the Olympian god of fertility and eternal youth, the largest krewe in Mardi Gras history was founded in 1967 as a small neighborhood venture in the Bayou St. John-Gentilly area. By Read More In 1857, the first parade rolled through the city streets, courtesy of the Mistick Krewe of Comus. And in 1872, Rex, the king of Mardi Gras made his debut. Today, hundreds of Mardi Gras clubs (krewes) host grand balls and dozens of parade. Balls and Parades Every krewe throws its own parade during the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras, each one with a unique theme and sometimes decades-old history. There are hundreds of parades in New Orleans during Carnival season, but here’s a guide to some of the most notable Mardi Gras krewes whose names are synonymous with the holiday itself. The Krewe of Dionysus was founded in 1985 by a group of Slidell businessmen intent on bringing an old-fashioned, family-oriented Mardi Gras parade to the Camellia City. Dionysus (Bacchus in Roman Mythology) is the ancient Greek god of fertility and wine, According to legend, he had a dual nature Rex assigned meaning to the colors of Mardi Gras using their 1892 parade, Symbolism of Colors: purple for justice, gold for power, and green for faith. And Comus's pseudo Old English term krewe became the standard term for most Mardi Gras organizations. A new signature throw for Excalibur will be an 8-inch hand-decorated Dragon Egg and hand-decorated wooden shields. Excalibur rolls February 21 at 7 p.m. during Family Gras. Krewe of Paws. Mardi Gras has gone to the dogs! The Krewe of Paws will parade Saturday, February 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Olde Town Slidell. A new signature throw for Excalibur will be an 8-inch hand-decorated Dragon Egg and hand-decorated wooden shields. Excalibur rolls February 21 at 7 p.m. during Family Gras. Krewe of Paws. Mardi Gras has gone to the dogs! The Krewe of Paws will parade Saturday, February 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Olde Town Slidell. The Krewe of Orpheus held its own yearly open house, bringing the best of old-line and superkrewe aesthetics together for a Lundi Gras spectacle theme "As Above So Below." The Krewes of Bacchus and Endymion continue to prepare their own epic journeys through Uptown and Mid-City, and parades new and old like Argus and Kings are bringing the feel MARDI GRAS SPECIALS: $8 HURRICANE (Rum). $8 MARDI GRAS PARTY PUNCH (Vodka). $8 FRENCH 75 (Gin). $4 Mardi Gras Mocktails (virgin drinks) Forget-Me-Not Factory, Inc: Wear your favorite Mardi Gras mask and receive a 10% discount for regularly priced products at the Forget-Me-Not Factory on March 1st: Gloss Hair Studio: Goddess Glitter Hair Tinsel. The Magic of Mardi Gras Marching Krewes. To learn more about the recent explosion of marching groups in New Orleans, pick up a copy of "I Wanna Do That! The Magic of Mardi Gras Marching Krewes." It's filled with spectacular photography and little known Mardi Gras facts. It makes a great gift, too! Order now. NEW ORLEANS — The 2025 Carnival season kicked off on January 6, and Krewe of Pontchartrain is set to roll Uptown on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 11:30 a.m. Krewe of Pontchartrain says "Come Party with Mardi Gras was extremely segregated for a long time until December 19, 1991 when Councilwoman Dorothy Mae Taylor, the first Black female councilwoman in New Orleans, presented a city ordinance that would force all krewes to desegregate as a requirement to participate in Mardi Gras festivities. Krewe Of Lafitte - Pensacola, Florida - is the largest all male Mardi Gras Krewe in the Florida Panhandle. The Krewe was formed in 1953 to promote a means to celebrate Carnival. Krewe of Olympus - Houston, Texas - a largely gay Mardi Gras krewe dedicated to preserving the tradition of Mardi Gras and to raising funds for community charities.
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