All students, and probably some professors, are incredibly glad for Fat Tuesday, if only for the fact that there will be no class that day. Ever wonder how we got this fun holiday full of revelry, balls, beads, moon pies, and sleeping in on the 47th day before Easter? Actually, two cities, Mobile and New Orleans, lay claim to the creation of Mardi Gras.
Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday in English, starts the 12th day after Christmas, on January 6. It’s common knowledge that this holiday is French, but the roots of Carnival go all the way back to the Romans when they first embraced Christianity. According to twilghtbridge.com, Mardi Gras began in the United States in 1718, when the French owned New Orleans, with private masked balls and parties. Then the Spanish, after gaining control over the area, banned dancing in the streets, but when the Americans acquired New Orleans in 1827, the “right to party in mask was restored,” according to the Krewe of Crescent City. A few years later, six wealthy New Orleanians got together and created a secret society of bluebloods, called the Krewe of Comus after the Greek god Komos. They began a parade with floats, a theme and a ball afterwards. Following this krewe was the Krewe of Rex, which was begun by the Russian Duke Alexis Romanoff, “The King of Carnival.” According to mardi-gras.holiday.com, he was the man to first introduce the offficial Mardi Gras colors: purple, which stood for justice; green for faith; and gold for power. In 1809, Zulu, a parody of Krewe of Rex, appeared, with a king who held a “banana-stalk scepter and wore a lard can crown” (mardi-gras.holiday.com). In the end, this Krewe became a favorite among the crowds who indulged in the pre-Lent merriment. In 1949, Louis Armstrong, the great jazz trumpet player, became the year’s king of the Zulu parade and landed on the cover of “Time” magazine.
In fact, many famous people have been involved with this exciting tradition. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor visited New Orleans during Mardi Gras in 1950, even bowing to the kings of Rex and Comus to honor them. Harry Connick, Jr. began the Krewe of Orpheus, which has a parade rolling Lundi Gras (Fat Monday) night with a celebrity grand marshal and guests. The festivities end with a ball and supper open to the public.
Most Krewes are even expanding their reach and allowing out-of-town members to come and join the party. Every parade is completely funded by the members of the Krewe sponsoring it, making Fat Tuesday the “Greatest Free Show on Earth” (tonymardigras.com).
On the other hand, Mobile also lays claim to the start of Mardi Gras. According to mobile.org, the celebration began in 1703 when the Cowbellion de Rakin Society swarmed the streets with hoes, rakes and cowbells looted from a local hardware store. It is interesting to note this first celebration took place on New Year’s Eve and not Fat Tuesday, but the sentiments of Mardi Gras were being laid.
By the mid-1800s, the parade event appeared by way of the Cowbellion de Rakin Society, according to mobile.org. In fact, it goes on to say the Society, along with other mystic groups, traveled to New Orleans in 1857 to help start Mardi Gras there.
When the Civil War began, Mardi Gras was the last thing on people’s minds. But in 1886, a man named Joe Cain decided to restart what had become an annual tradition. He dressed in Chickasaw Indian gear, called himself Chief Slacabamorinico, and along with six eager friends, rode a one-float parade through town. Today, in honor of Cain and his resurgence of Mardi Gras, the city of Mobile celebrates Joe Cain Day the Sunday before Fat Tuesday.
Whichever story you believe shouldn’t hinder the enjoyment of Mardi Gras. Today, the parades in Mobile are just as fun, if not more fun, than those when they first began and locals, as well as those who travel to get here, should take the opportunity to indulge in the festivities. Catch all the excitement of Mardi Gras as it peaks March 4.
