Rex's Proclamation invites his subjects to the grand celebration of Carnival. His royal colors of purple, green, and gold are to this day the colors of Mardi Gras, and the song played in the first Rex parade, "If Ever I Cease to Love," has become Carnival's anthem. Rex and his Queen preside over the Rex Ball, Carnival's glittering conclusion. The Rex Organization (founded 1872), [1] commonly referred to simply as Rex, is a New Orleans Carnival krewe which stages one of the city's most celebrated parades on Mardi Gras Day. Rex is Latin for ' king ', and Rex reigns as "The King of Carnival". They are the origin of many Mardi Gras traditions, including the official Carnival colors of purple, green and gold, as well as the collectible doubloon coins (introduced by Rex in 1960). The Krewe consists of 600 male riders and parades on the New Orleans Uptown route on Mardi Gras day, immediately after Zulu. Mardi Gras in New Orleans helped to heal and strengthen the city almost a century and a half ago, and continues to be a major component of New Orleans' economy. The Rex Organization has provided a modern version of the old edict to be used by tourism officials in their marketing efforts. Today, during the traditional Kings’ Day celebration at Mardi Gras World, Rex, the King of Carnival, by royal edict, proclaimed Mardi Gras 2025. Due to the tragedy on Bourbon Street, this year’s Kings’ Day ceremony was both a mournful remembrance of lives lost to an act of evil and a celebration of the joy to come this Carnival season. The Boeuf Gras rolls in the Rex parade down St. Charles Ave. on Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. (Staff Photo by David Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune) STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD Mardi Gras, also often called Carnival or Carnaval, is celebrated in countries around the world with large Roman Catholic populations. Krewe of Rex: 10:30 a.m., Uptown New Orleans Rex has been the global symbol of New Orleans’ most famous holiday since his first appearance in 1872. The all-male krewe is responsible for the concept of day parades, for the official Mardi Gras flag and colors – green for faith, gold for power, purple for justice – and for the anthem of Carnival, “If I Ever Cease to Love,” as well as for one of the most popular throws, the Reiss: Rex holds its traditions dear and sacrosanct so we try not to change too much but Rex really is an innovator when you think about Mardi Gras in general. In 1960, we introduced the doubloon Howell Crosby, a longtime Rex lieutenant and civic leader, will reign as King of Carnival, joined by Queen Tatum Reiss, the daughter of a former Rex, for Mardi Gras Click on the Mardi Gras krewes below for further information about the krewe and to see their usual route for each parade. Please Krewe of Rex 10:30am view map ; The Boeuf Gras float makes it way down St. Charles Ave. near Canal Street as Rex rolls on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, La. Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. Rex marks its 150th anniversary this year. Doubloons were introduced to Mardi Gras by the Krewe of Rex in 1960 and rapidly became one of the premier krewe favors which krewe members could inexpensively throw to the crowds attending their parades. Many of Rex’s floats are icons of the city’s celebration of Mardi Gras. Rex, the King of Carnival, and his consort, the Queen of Carnival, preside over the Rex Ball, Carnival’s glittering conclusion. The Pro Bono Publico Foundation (“PBPF”) is the Rex Organization’s public education philanthropy association. Since its founding in Rex parades down St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras in New Orleans on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. (Photo by Chris Granger, The Times-Picayune) PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER The Rex Parade. The Rex Procession has been the highlight of Mardi Gras day since the Rex Organization was formed and first paraded in 1872. While there had been celebrations in many forms on Mardi Gras before that time, the Rex Parade gave a brilliant daytime focus to the festivities, and provided a perfect opportunity for Rex, King of Carnival, to greet his city and his subjects. Legend has it that the first parade of Rex, King of Carnival, was created in 1872 as a last moment effort to entertain the Russian Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff, whose visit to the city would coincide with Mardi Gras that year. Legend misses the point. In 1872 New Orleans was still suffering through reconstructions. Tensions were high. The Boeuf Gras float rolls down St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras Day as the 440 riders of Rex, King of Carnival, celebrate their 150th year with a 26-float parade entitled School of Design Rex traditionally declares the start of Mardi Gras by official proclamation. HNOC, 1983.30 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. The Boeuf Gras rolls in the Rex parade down St. Charles Ave. on Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. (Staff Photo by David Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune) STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD
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