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| Rex
selected the official Mardi Gras colors in 1872. The 1892 Rex Parade theme "Symbolism of Colors" gave meaning to the colors: purple represents justice green represents faith gold represents power Remember to wear Mardi Gras colors whenever you're not in costume! |
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| No one really knows
where or when the custom started, and most don't care! Some traceit to the Romans, whose paganorgies were held during the spring season. Other places celebrate Mardi Gras, but no one does it like New Orleans! |
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| In 1857, a group of
men formed a secret society called the Mystick Krewe of Comus. They felt that Mardi Gras could be carried on with planning and organization of the celebrations. Comus planned the first parade around a theme and lit the parade with flambeauxs. The Krewe of Rex formed in 1872 -- to entertain the visiting Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff from Russia. |
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Since we didn't have
royalty to welcome the Grand Duke, the men created a King "for a day" so the Grand Duke could be royally received. They selected one of their own members to be the King of Carnival. Many parades keep their King's identity a secret until parade day. |
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New Orleanians have formed many secret societies that serve charitable and social functions. They help unite the city with their parade's themes. In 1877, after an interruption for the Civil War, the Krewe of Momus used the theme "Hades, a Dream of Momus" ridiculing President Grant. |
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| Most Mardi Gras
Krewes developed from private social clubs that have restrictive membership policies. Since all of these parade clubs are funded by its members, Mardi Gras is sometimes called the "Greatest Free Show on Earth"! |
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| In 1991, the New
Orleans City Council introduced a parade organization anti- discrimination ordinance. As a result, some of the oldest private clubs - Momus; Comus and Proteus, no longer parade the streets. |
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The most recently
developed |
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Mardi Gras Links:
Countdown to Mardi Gras
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Updated:
June 27, 2006
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