Many
many years ago, when web sites first became available, I created Mardi Gras
Fun for all to enjoy. I confess that I let it sit for too long, but am back
hard at it now and hope you enjoy this our new version. I did this primarily
to share with friends my inside knowledge and experiences about Mardi Gras
and New Orleans with freinds.
Mardi
Gras is a special celebration of 'Fat Tuesday' where most Christian religions
are enjoying historically the last day before the beginning of the Lenten
Season. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday the day after Mardi Gras Day. During
Lent many refrain from certain pleasures such as smoking, drinking, or eating
certain foods so as to prepare for Easter Sunday and the celebration of the
resurection of Christ.
Mardi
Gras Day is the last day before Lent begins, thus 'a last fling' before going
into Lent.
I was
born in 1936. As long as I can recall there was this wonderful season that
followed Christmas called Mardi Gras. I vaguely recall being on my father's
shoulder in the French Quarter and along Canal Street and uptown where vehicles
called floats rolled passed us with men throwing objects at us. I can still
smell the flambeaus (the kerosene laterns on poles) as they passed by illuminating
the area. I recall sparkling glass beads that were thrown from these passing
vehicles called floats. (Of course today the glass beads have been replaced
with plastic beads) I clearly recall seeing my dad pulling some beads out
of his pocket, which I soon learned he'd do from time to time, as he'd not
always be lucky enough to have beads thrown his way and he definitely wanted
some for his kids. (Today there is so much thrown you have to cover your face
or be pulverized.) Yes, this was the 'tooth fairy' and all the other childhood
fables rolled into one for local kids. It still is and even better now as
they throw not only beads, but footballs, dolls, toys, hats, and an incredible
assortment of things that we all grovel for from huge mega floats.
Later,
in my high school days Mardi Gras became a social event. What a fun way to
have a date and it not cost a dime to participate. I recall riding in one
of these parades on a truck that had hay strewn all about and playing with
my ukulele and smooching the entire day.. Oh how great those days were.
Then
came my military days after high school and being home on leave for one special
Mardi Gras. As I recall the parade seemed to pass near the train station.
At this location we sailors learned there were many young gals who came by
trains to New Orleans to partake of the fun, and boy did they.
Before
I knew it I was married with kids of my own to shoulder. Now this truly is
the ultimate fun of all having your own kids to show them Mardi Gras fun.
Oh how my children loved Mardi Gras! The excitement of chasing the beads and
the trinkets that the riders of the Krewes (organizational called riding crews)
threw from their floats. Of course there are also the many high stepping bands,
marching organizations and Military organizations, grand marshalls and celebreties
participating.
About
this time there in my history, there was a new object thrown from the floats
called doubloons. It was a coin (usually aluminum) cast with the krewe's
insignia and date of the ride embossed on it . These doubloons became the
rage. People were scrambling on their hands and knees to pick these small
tokens up that had fallen on the ground. You had to watch out that no one
stepped on your fingers when you tried to pick one up. My young son ended
with shoe boxes full of them. He also had a huge sorted book from the many
different Krewes. (He thought someday they'd be worth a fortune.) Some how
he got a large number of these coins involved with heavy clorinated water
and they began to oxidize enmass. (What a mess!)
Another
great doubloon story I recall was my young daughter on top a high ladder in
front of Christ Church Cathedral on St. Charles Avenue one night trying to
catch them.. This night a super Krew was passing with their celebrety grandmarshall,
Danny Kaye. Danny was tossing these tiny doubloons and incredibly he tossed
one her way (she was a good distance away) and she caught it. Of course this
was no mega sweepstakes win but for her it was just as wonderful a moment.
Mardi
Gras has paraded virtually every year with a few exceptions such as during
War times and in the 1970s when there was a New Orleans Police Department
strike - however, most of the krewes moved their parades to Jefferson Parish
where the strike wasn't a factor.
In the
60s and 70s we began partaking in the Mardi Gras Day festivities. Sometimes
on a beautiful spring day, Mardi Gras, is no doubt the 'greatest picnic' one
could ever attend. Of course some aren't so great weather wise. People gather
all around you to stake out their plots on the parkways with their chairs,
ice chests and BBQ pits.
Talk
about meeting folks you never have known! I mean folks from all over the city,
from all walks of life and from many different life styles. I have made lifelong
friends at these Mardi Gras day events. I also have been able to meet many
of my children's friends that otherwise I might never have met . Same holds
true of friend's friends.
Our sole
purpose on this one day is to enjoy life. The competitiveness for the beads
and loot thrown from the floats is fierce, yet paradoxily fun. Often those
that do the catching become Santa Claus while sharing their catch with the
less fortunate. Kids go home with bags overflowing with this stuff. Believe
me, it's just an incredible day in one's life. What a way to do a picnic.
I'd urge you to find a local to help you share Mardi Gras Day, as it is a
learned experience over many years.
All around
you are people in costumes. Oh what fun it is to see the many Disney characters
and pirates, and moss people, political satire and on and on. If you are a
creative person, this is truly your day. Many of these people spend a good
part of their year creating these costumes. Seeing a family with Mom and Dad
and the children all dressed alike really catches the eye. Many groups organize
their themes and come up with some highly imaginable outfits.
So far,
I've not even mentioned the parade themes. Virtually all parades have themes
- Greek Gods, Movies, Books, etc. There are also many free lance independent
marching groups that parade before the real parade. Talk about fun. You will
enjoy free music virtually the entire day.
There
are all sorts of events taking place on Mardi Gras Day. Besides the family
activities on the parkways and in the many suburbs there are the downtown
parts of our city with their more adult venues. Downtown and especially in
the French Quarter are endless contests and entertainments on the streets.
One needs to be open to venture into some of these quarters as what one might
see in costumes can be hysterical, incredible and otherwise too. Many feel
this isn't the place for children. I believe what you and I might see as adults
for the most part goes over the head of the kids. Of course, some of the stuff
is truly vile. so you need to use a little prudence and common sense as to
where you go. Bourbon Street is so thick with people that I personally prefer
to walk on Royal Street, which is one block parallel to Bourbon towards the
river.
In thick
pickpocketers thrive. As in any major city in the world there are picpocketers
and Mardi Gras crowds are prime pickings. Use common sense and protect your
personal valuables from their grasp. There are many ways to do this. I prefer
to have my wallet in my front pocket. Many ladies use fanny packs. Dealing
with the magnitude of these crowds and the end results of having a fun filled
day are strictly up to you.
In the
early 80s I began taking my recreational vehicle to the parade routes to provide
a base for my friends, neighbors and relatives. What a splendid system. Usually
the Friday before the Mardi Gras weekend I'd find a nice spot along the boulevard
to park my vehicle for the weekend and through to Mardi Gras Day, that next
Tuesday. We also had to stake our our territory on the actual parade route.
Over the years, because so many did as I, the local Police began creating
obstructions to our fun. We still managed to prevail, but with the loss of
some ladders, ropes and chairs. Today the spirit is even more competitive
and the Police even more deligent - but the fun goes on.
Best
is to have a friend with a home on or near the parade route. There are also
groups of folks who will rent an apartment for that special day and host a
place for their chairs and ladders, plus ice chests and a nice available potty
for those in the group. This method is the latest way that my adult children
have tanke advantage of for their family fun.
We had
a quick learn on how not to fill the vehicles' potty too quickly. One of the
tricks was to turn the water pump off so it wasn't flushed unless absolutely
needed. Now-a-days the city and suburbs provide porta-poties in multiple locations
throughout the parade routes. This definitely is an ease this problem.
Talk
about fried chicken, cake, cokes, beer and every thing else in the world.
Imagine 200 plus folks and kids visiting you for an event such as this.
Next
as our children grew into their high school and college years, I was approached
by a neighbor who had been riding in a 'super Krewe' to ride with him .
I decided to give it a one year ride and included my Tulane University student
son for this experience. we ended up riding for 15 years. Talk about fun!
This
super Krewe was the largest and most glitzy one of them all. It had the
most riders and without a doubt threw the most items to the croud of any of
the Krewes. Its riding position was the most favorable also, as it was
the Saturday night prior to Mardi Gras Day. This is because more people from
out of town could attend, having that weekend to travel to and from New Orleans
. Many people and college students from outside New Orleans don't enjoy the
Mardi Gras holiday schedules (that Monday and Tuesday) that locals do - so
they are most likely to attend that Saturday night.
For the
average Mardi Gras spectator (of which I'd been all my life ( delete) prior
) being a rider is an incredible undertaking. In our group it wasn't uncommon
for one to toss hundreds or thousands of dollars of items to the audience
during our ride. As part of the fee to join the krewes, this helpsshare and
cover the costs of the floats, the tractors, the bands and the extra police
detachments. Yes, it's not hard to spend a wad of money being a rider. Our
Krewe had several thousand riders. Mardi Gras might be the greatest free
show on earth, but some one is paying for this fun.
Over
the years there have been efforts to have commercial sponsors ; but so far,
for the majority of Mardi Gras - it is totally sponsored by the individual
participants.