According to Angie Manning-Istre, Communications Manager for the Lake Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau, Lake Charles and the surrounding area promote an extremely family friendly environment, including a Children’s Day and Children’s Parade.

The parading starts this year in the town of Vinton, which kicks off its Mardi Gras Celebration with a Mardi Gras parade at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, which will weave through Vinton and end at City Hall, where there will be free gumbo for all.

On Friday, Feb. 20, local business leaders and social organizations take to the streets for the Merchant’s Parade in the Downtown-Midtown area of Lake Charles.

On Saturday, there’s something for everyone.

“There’s a Gumbo Cook-Off, a Zydeco dance, the Krewe of Barkus Parade (which is for dogs!) and the Krewe of Illusions Presentation. The Krewe of Illusions presentation is fantastic and you’ll be wowed as they present their royalty in fabulous costumes along with a little show,” said Ms. Manning-Istre.

Among many “must see” events, be sure not to miss the Lighted Boat Parade on Sunday night, Feb. 22, and the Royal Gala on Monday, Feb. 23, which is the presentation of every krewe in Southwest Louisiana.

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On Mardi Gras day, Lake Charles starts with a block party downtown at 10 a.m., which is celebrated with Lake Charles’ sister city, Sioux City. The party is followed by a Red Hat Parade and a Parade of Past Krewe Royalty.

Fat Tuesday peaks with the Krewe of Krewes’ Parade that winds for four miles through Lake Charles, with hundreds of floats, costumes, and lots of beads.

Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras.  Mardi Gras.  Mardigras.  mardigras. Louisiana. LA.

Steve Jones, Director of Real Estate Sales at Kaiser Realty, Inc., lives in Gulf Shores and is this year’s King of the Mystic Order of Shiners, a Mardi Gras krewe. Steve got an early, eye-opening introduction to Mardi Gras celebrations. “My first Mardi Gras was in 1972,” he said. “I was a sophomore at Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama and our Army ROTC Drill Team was invited to march in the Fat Tuesday parade. We traveled by bus to New Orleans the day before and spent the night aboard the USS Trenton. Needless to say, at 15 years of age, I saw things the next day during that parade that I had never seen before, and I'll never forget girls coming out of the crowd to put beads around Sergeant Johnson's neck, and the thunderous applause when we would throw our weapons cross ranks and overhead.”

These days, Steve’s Mardi Gras celebrations aren’t quite so educational, but are just as fun. “Besides our Shiner Ball of course, I love the parade. Our entire community shuts down to participate in the Fat Tuesday parade and thousands line the street along the two-mile parade route. We have a float that as a group we build and decorate with a different theme each year and as the oldest order we are always the first float in the lineup. We make sure several of us walk so that we can put beads and throws directly into the hands of the young ones.”

Down the street in Orange Beach, Tom Steber, General Manager of Zeke’s Landing Marina, is a member of the Mystics of Pleasure society. The Mystics put on their own parade, this year the Saturday before Fat Tuesday. This is the Mystics’ ninth year to parade, and their theme is “It’s 2009, Fine as Wine on Number Nine”. The group will throw more than a million beads, 100,000 coins, 50,000 cups and much more.

According to Tom, this year a formal ball is being held by the Mystics, with nationally known entertainment and a joyous feast. Members will be dressed in Mardi Gras style, Costume de Riqueur, with white tie and black tails for gentlemen and floor length formals for the ladies.

Tom began his Mardi Gras experience in Mobile.

“In 1957, we went to Mobile's parade. I went to almost every one as a child with my Grandfather, Arthur Smith, who was on the Mobile County School Board for 20 plus years. He love Mardi Gras! I could not tell you how many times I got burned by the flares that walked beside the floats!”

What do you do if there aren’t many krewes in your town? Make up your own. That’s what Jennifer Wilson and friends did in Orange Beach, creating the Maidens In Pink Stilettos.

“We formed the organization near the end of 2005, so our Inaugural Mardi Gras Season was 2006,” said Jennifer. How did they get started? “It’s a long story. Sarah Champagne, Mary Susan Slaughter, Rachel Ellsworth, Summer Sanders and myself, were talking about how fun it would be to get a group of girls together to create something exciting for women in the Orange Beach area. We decided that we would start an all girl rock band and call it the Pink Stilettos. No one in the group could play an instrument so we assigned everyone an instrument to learn, but the rock band never panned out.

Imagine that! Sarah, being the party planner that she is, decided later in the year that it would be fun to have a “Mardi Gras” ball themed birthday party for several of us that had birthdays in February. We started brainstorming on the party idea and decided that we should just start our own Mardi Gras organization. We sought advice from some very helpful organizations on the Eastern Shore, sent out an email to all of our friends, held a meeting for those interested, and had over 100 girls show up. We added the “Maidens” to the name to make it more festive, and The Maidens In Pink Stilettos was born. We had our Inaugural Masquerade three months later. Our mission was to create an organization that was fabulous - but still affordable for working women in the area. Along with having fun, we knew that we could use the combined talents of the group to plan amazing fundraisers and do some good for those that need it. Over our short existence, we have been able to donate a considerable amount of monies to charitable organizations including The American Cancer Society, Alabama Juvenile Arthritis Initiative, The Lighthouse of Baldwin County, Mary’s Shelter in Baldwin County, and many more.”

As for a ball, “We have a ‘Masquerade’ instead of a formal ball; and pink heels and pink boas are always a part of our costume! In addition to celebrating Mardi Gras, we have monthly socials and several fundraisers throughout the year. It takes up a large amount of time and it is hard work, but we have a wonderful, diverse group of members and every single member does their part to make our organization successful.”

What’s the best part of being a member of a Mardi Gras krewe?

 “My favorite part of Mardi Gras is riding in the parade. In order to keep our yearly dues affordable, we do not have our own parade. On Fat Tuesday, we ride in the city parades in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach – and we have a blast!”

Having a blast. That’s what Mardi Gras all boils down to. Southeast Alabama has that figured out.  

These days, Steve’s Mardi Gras celebrations aren’t quite so educational, but are just as fun. “Besides our Shiner Ball of course, I love the parade. Our entire community shuts down to participate in the Fat Tuesday parade and thousands line the street along the two-mile parade route. We have a float that as a group we build and decorate with a different theme each year and as the oldest order we are always the first float in the lineup. We make sure several of us walk so that we can put beads and throws directly into the hands of the young ones.”

Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama Mardi Gras.  Mardi Gras.  Mardigras.  mardigras.  Orange Beach MArdi Gras.  Gulf Shores Mardi Gras.

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“I had dreamed of riding on a Mardi Gras float since I was a little girl,” said Kim Erwin, real estate broker from Corpus Christi, Texas. “I went to Mardi Gras a few years ago and loved it and immediately decided to buy a condo just off Bourbon Street. While I was walking around in the French Quarter, I saw a necklace in a quaint little shop that had the word ‘Muses’ on it. I just loved it. I knew ‘Muses’ must be a Mardi Gras krewe, so I asked around until I found them.”

Muses, in Greek mythology, are daughters of Zeus and are inspirations to artists, poets and musicians. Muses, in Mardi Gras mythology, are members of a New Orleans krewe that first paraded in 2000, and which is made up exclusively of women. The Krewe of Muses now has over 1100 members. Kim is one of those members.
“When I found out where to apply, I went over and said I just had to ride on a float because it was my childhood dream.”

And in 2004, Kim rode in her first Mardi Gras parade.

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The Muses put on a night parade. And while not a Super Krewe like Endymion or Bacchus, the Muses have quickly gathered a loyal following, and were voted best night parade by a local magazine. During the parade, members fling “throws” to the crowds, and their signature throw is shoes. Yes, they throw shoes. But unlike Iraqi journalists, Muses’ shoes are welcomed. During the year, the krewe gets together at Glitter Parties to decorate shoes, and one member’s shoe creation is voted as best in shoe . . . er, show. Last year’s winner made a neon shoe. When finished, the shoes, around a thousand of them, are put into bags to be thrown from the floats to eager young women and metrosexuals.

Shoes are the trademark throw of the Muses, but not the only thing thrown. Beaded purses, custom designed Muses medallion necklaces, specially made Muses doubloons, Muses pedicure sets, and Muses Plush toys with big red lips are also thrown. The Mardi Gras accessory and throw manufacturing industry is evidently alive and well. Talk about your niche marketing.

For their night parade, the Muses turn out a little less than thirty floats. They are made by Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, the main float manufacturer for Mardi Gras. The Muses parade starts after a couple of other parades have finished. Since parades don’t always (if ever) run like clockwork, that means a floater (a person riding a float, and a term I just made up) could be on the float for many hours before the Muses parade even begins. That sounds like it could get uncomfortable.

“There are bathrooms on the floats,” said Kim.

OK, makes sense. I just never thought of a float as having a bathroom. But it works for me.
“We also bring food and of course drinks – Nectar of the Goddesses.”

Naturally.

“You’re on the float for a long time. It takes a couple of hours just to set up all your throws. You have to take them out of the packaging and hang them so you can reach them quickly. The crowds pass quickly so you don’t have time to unpackage as you go,” Kim said. “And sometimes the preceding parades can go a little long so you have to wait till they’re through. Then our parade lasts 3 to 4 hours.”

All those throws don’t just appear. They have to be ordered and purchased (or made). And each member orders and pays for her own throws. Since there are thousands of throws for each floater, that can get quite pricey. The throw manufacturers sell not only individual throws but also packages of different kinds of throws, each specifically made for the Muses. What will they think of next, a Muses clothing line?

“We already have a complete Muses clothing line online,” offered Kim.

Pure marketing genius.

As if spending hours on a float eating and drinking wasn’t enough fun, the Muses have a pre-party for all members. There are two classes of members, Riding and Non-Riding. Muses start as Non-Riders and work their way up to Riding members through attrition-there aren’t nearly enough riding spots on the floats for all the members.
And until this year, there was also a post-party. Talk about a hangover! The Muses post-party often featured big name musical entertainment, such as Harry Connick, Jr. and The Village People (in honor of that year’s parade theme – Disco!). This year, the post-party had been replaced by a bigger pre-party the night before the parade, which should make the day after the parade a little less painful.

Kim also revealed this little known secret. Floaters are actually required to wear safety lines, to keep them from falling off. Once you fall off your float, you are forbidden by New Orleans Mardi Gras law from getting back on. I suspect this law has evolved from experience.

So is the Krewe of Muses enough to keep Kim busy throughout Mardi Gras? Evidently not.

“I just joined a new Krewe, the Krewe Boo. All profits go to buy homes for police and firemen,” she said.

If you’re going to go all out for Mardi Gras, it might as well be for a good cause.

Kim Erwin New Orleans Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras. mardigras. Mardigras. Kim Erwin of Realty world.

With all that fun out there, how do you decide which events to attend? We’ll hit the highlights here, with the help of Bobbi Mannino, Public Relations Director of www.MardiGrasNewOrleans.com.

What are the largest krewes? According to Bobbi, “The largest krewes (the most members) are the Krewe of Endymion, Krewe of Bacchus, Krewe of Zulu, and Krewe of Orpheus. I believe the Super Krewes are the ones that have the extremely large (I call  them ‘mega’) floats ... Krewe of Endymion and Krewe of Bacchus.”

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What are the most popular parades? “Those are the ones put on by the largest krewes (listed above), plus the krewes of Rex and Proteus.”

What are the most unique parades? Bobbi has a list:

Endymion – the only New Orleans parade to use a different parade route. It rolls through Mid-City and ends up Downtown. It has a celebrity Grand Marshall.

Bacchus - only parade to have a celebrity King – they have a great list of past kings such as Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, etc.

Zulu – the only African American krewe - they parade on Mardi Gras morning just prior to Rex.

Rex - probably the best known parade because Rex is considered "King of Carnival".

Proteus - still uses the old floats with the old wagon wheels.

Orpheus - a krewe formed by Harry Connick, Jr.  He often invites many of his musician friends to ride with him.

Muses - an all female parade with lots of bling and glitz!

Cesar - one of the many krewes which parade in Metairie (Jefferson Parish). What makes them unique is that they are invited to replicate this parade in Disney World on Mardi Gras Day.

OK, now what about the grand tradition of the Mardi Gras Ball? How do those work?

“The actual tradition ball has the presentation of the King, Queen and their Court, and is by invitation only. The members of that organization have a certain number of invites to distribute,” according to Bobbi. “The most prestigious ball occurs Mardi Gras night when the Krewe of Comus and the Krewe of Rex meet. It's called the ‘Meeting of the Courts’. To my knowledge, there are no public balls. There are "extravaganzas" that the public can purchase a ticket to through the organization such as Endymion, which holds its after parade party in the Louisiana Superdome.”

Hopefully, that’s enough information to get you started well on your way to New Orleans Mardi Gras bliss. 

Mardi Gras World lets visitors loose in the 75,000 square foot warehouse where the Kern artists make floats. The tour of Mardi Gras World includes tastes of the Mardi Gras classic pastry King Cake, videos of prior Mardi Gras parades, and an opportunity to dress up in the many Carnival costumes on hand. And of course, you get to play around the many floats and their accoutrements, namely, sculptures of famous people like Marilyn Monroe and Cleopatra, and a smorgasbord of dragons, alligators, dolphins and many other creatures that have found their way onto a Mardi Gras float. The artists can be seen creating the sculptures and floats and making those dreamlike parade staples come to life.

The float making family tradition is continued today by Roy Kern’s grandson, Barry Kern, President and CEO of Kern Studios. Today the Kern Studio prepares floats for parades around the world, for casinos, and for amusement parks. Kern Studios has artists and factories around the world.

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“We make floats for parades all over the world – from Universal Studios to Japan, Korea, France and Spain,” said Barry Kern. “We’ll produce 400 to 500 floats for Mardi Gras. Most are built out of cloth, paper mache or fiberglass on farm wagons. Our studios operate year-round and we have around 150 full-time employees.”

What’s the largest float Kern Studios has ever built? “The S.S. Captain Eddie. It was 240’ long and held 200 people,” said Kern. The S.S. Captain Eddie was a “Superfloat”. The Superfloats have ornate design, sound and lots of fiber optic lighting.

Can’t afford to have Kern Studios build you a Superfloat? No problem. They even have floats for rent, from a mini-float that is hand pulled and carries two to six people, up to a Superfloat that can carry up to 60. You can also rent props for your float, like 3D sculpted figures, as well as walking heads and krewe costumes. It’s your one stop shop for all your Mardi Gras parade needs.

Not bad work, if you can get it.

Mardi Gras along the Gulf coast has changed in many ways over the last 300 years. Historians tell us that Mardi Gras celebrations were initially conducted on New Year’s Eve, rather than Fat Tuesday. Secret societies were created, parades were invented and the ever popular “throws” evolved. For a first hand, eyewitness account of the changes over the last few decades, Gulfscapes consulted the Official Historian of Mobile’s Battle House hotel, Mr. George Moore. The Battle House has been known as Mobile’s living room since it was first built in 1852. Over the years, it has been burned down, shut down and now renovated as part of the plan to revitalize Mobile’s downtown. Mr. Moore, known affectionately as “Mr. George”, worked at the Battle House in the 1950’s and 1960’s, and was one of the first new hires when the hotel re-opened in 2007. Mr. George, a life-long Mobile resident, proclaims he is “seventy five years young”, and has seen as many Mardi Gras as anyone.

“The first Mardi Gras I recall I was nine years old. We lived on the corner of State and Warren Streets, which was about five blocks from Government Street, where the parades usually go down. We could hear the sirens and we could easily walk up State Street where I lived and walk to Government to catch the beginning of the parades. I recall seeing the Excelsior Band, a black band which marches in most parades and which has been around continuously for 125 years. The floats were lighted by kerosene lamps. Those kerosene lamps were big, heavy, dangerous. The men carried them. They also had flares to light the floats and they let teenagers carry them. I carried those flares and made a little money and it was fun. You were in the parade. You didn’t get to throw candy but you were still in the parades.

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“Of course back then, we didn’t have a lot candy. They threw serpentine and Cracker Jacks – in the box. Those things were dangerous! They would knock you out, man! Some of those guys thought they were quarterbacks. If you wore eyeglasses, they could break them and hit you in the eye. Later on they started getting those Cracker Jacks with serrated plastic and if they landed wrong, they could cut your hand. A lot of changes have been made and they came up with candy and stuffed animals and Moon Pies in later years.”

“I made a lot of money (carrying flares), $5. Back in 1946, ’47, ’48, that was lot money. We thought we were big shots and would go back by this place called Coney Island after the parade and get hamburgers and big drinks.”
“I’ve seen a lot of parades and they’ve all been fun. My first memory of the Battle House is when I played in this high school band my first year, 1949, and we marched north on Royal Street and saw all the people on the balcony of the Battle House, and you know, I was thinking they were cheering just for me!”

“By living right there at the corner of State and Warren Street, that’s where the colored parades, as they called it then, would pass right by there. Back during segregation, they had separate parades, black ones and white ones. We had a parade on Monday for black school kids and on Saturday the white school kids had a whole parade. The King and Queen of the colored parade would get on their float there by my house. So I was right there in the middle of that. I would see all the bands. I know one year Tuskegee played and I know that Alabama State University played every year. And they had high school bands. Of course, they didn’t have that many high school bands here so they’d bring high school bands from other areas. The colored parade was a big success. Some whites would come to the area to watch also. And they would use the floats built by the white societies.”

As far as the floats themselves, “The lighting has changed the most,” said Mr. George. “Back when I was a kid, the floats were pulled by tractors and mules. Today trucks pull them.”

And the other changes, “have been good. They now throw candies and soft animals and Moon Pies. And there used to be two weeks of parades, now its three weeks. The groups have expanded. So the changes have been good. I’ve enjoyed it. And it will only get better. Parades are larger, and there are more societies now. On Sunday, they used to not have a parade, now they have the Joe Cain parade, honoring him. It’s more for the people that are not in any organization. You also see a lot more people coming from all over to see our Mardi Gras, like they do in New Orleans.”

“And now the little towns around here have parades. In Pass Christian they have a parade. Also in Theodore they have a parade. On Dauphin Island they have a parade. So it’s really expanded, and it’s good to see that.”

“I’ve seen most of the Mardi Gras. Now I won’t miss any of the parades because I’m right here at the Battle House. They come right by. The balcony of the Battle House is the best place in Mobile to watch Mardi Gras. It’s just the right height. The people on the floats can make throws to up there. And they have to slow down to make that turn onto St. Francis Street. I’ve gone up on that same balcony that I saw the people cheering for me as a kid and watched the parades. I’ve made a 180 degree turn!”

“On New Year’s Eve 1830, Michael Krafft, a one-eyed cotton broker from Bristol, Pennsylvania, along with some friends, Henry Dagget, Robert Roberts, Daniel Geary, Thomas Niles, Nathanial Ledyar, Richard Currie, Amual Kipp and more met at Antoine or Antonin La Tourette’s Restaurant in the old Southern Hotel.”

“At what seemed the crack of dawn after ringing in the New Year with much revelry, they strolled through the cobblestone streets and were met with much temptation as they came upon Partridge’s Hardware Store. The clerks had begun to bring out hoes, rakes, gongs and cowbells to be displayed for the day’s business. This group scooped up these items and with a terrific amount of noise began to make their New Year’s calls.”

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“They stopped at Mayor John Stocking, Jr.’s house and awoke him from a slumber and he received them in good humor and invited them in for refreshments. They left the Mayor’s home and continued their revelry only to disband after deciding to call themselves The Midnight Revelers. It was not until 1833 that they adopted the name Cowbellion de Rakin society because of the implements used in their first outing. This is just one of many versions of the infancy of this group but they went on to have lavish balls and fabulous parades for many years and were known all over the country. The organization lasted for more than 50 years before disappearing as mysteriously as it began. In fact, the entire history of the society is shrouded in mystery.”

Ms. Dean is a member of three secret Mobile societies. Which ones?

“I am not able to name which ones as they are secret societies,” she replied.

Wow. I guess secret really means secret! Ms. Dean has been parading since she was two years old and is a dedicated Mardi Gras-er. Last year she attended twenty-two (22) of the grand Mardi Gras balls, which are thrown by the secret societies. The balls are elaborate occasions with ultra-formal attire required. Although she couldn’t reveal which societies she belonged to, she was able to describe some aspects of the societies in Mobile.
“Each organization is different and the process by which you become a member, serve the organization and are allowed to parade varies from society to society. In many groups you must have a member of the society submit your name to be considered for membership. You are then voted on and if your membership is accepted you are notified of where and when you must appear to take an oath or a pledge. Generally, the older the society the harder it is to gain membership. Many societies meet on a monthly basis and hold parties and other fundraisers as well as member only events throughout the year. A lot of the organizations also do a lot of charitable work in the community.”

Ms. Dean also pointed out that in Mobile, the organized Mardi Gras groups are known as “secret societies or organizations”, whereas in New Orleans, they are known as “krewes”.

In addition to the Cowbellions, Mobile also is the home of Joe Cain, known as the man who revived Mardi Gras in Mobile after the Civil War. In 1867, Joe dressed as a Chickasaw Indian named Chief Slacabamarinico and regaled the town with merriment.

Joe Cain started many of the mystic societies and parades in Mobile and many still carry on to this day. The city even declared a Joe Cain Day, which occurs the Sunday before Mardi Gras, and the city hosts a parade that is open to anyone who wants to participate.

Even in death, Joe Cain continues to promote and add to the Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile.

According to Ms. Dean, “Joe Cain died in 1904. Joe only had one wife during his lifetime, Elizabeth Alabama Rabby Cain. However, since his death he has accumulated 20 Widows and 15 Mistresses. In 1968 when Julian (Judy) Rayford brought the remains of Joe Cain and his wife back from Mississippi to be reburied in the Church Street Graveyard, there was a lady there that decided that he should have a widow and dressed up to morn at the grave. Since then, Cain’s Merry Widows have been a part of Joe Cain Day. The morning of the parade they have a party at the home of Joe Cain. They also, at an undisclosed time, go to the graveyard to mourn. They dress in all black and are veiled. Each of them claim they are the one and only true widow of Joe Cain.”

“A few years ago a group of ladies in red attire and veils emerged. They are The Mistresses of Joe Cain and they claim that Joe loved them best. Before the procession rolls down the streets of Mobile you are likely to see the Widows and the Mistresses in a scuffle and many times the police are called in. However, Chief Slacabamarinico always steps in and calms the ladies down and tell everyone they can all participate in the celebration because after all it is ‘The People’s Parade’. Right before the parade rolls the Mistresses make their way to the side of Chief Slac’s wagon and recite their Ode to Joe Cain:

Here is to Joe on this day we do mourn,
We loved him dearly though we face lots of scorn,
From dusk til dawn we will mourn his death,
Cause we all know he loved us best.”

Somehow, the saying “Rest in Peace” just doesn’t seem appropriate for Joe Cain.

Who knew? Who knew that Mardi Gras, which most people know only as a one day parade on Fat Tuesday, actually is a centuries old tradition that is celebrated for weeks each year, not just one day? Who knew that some cities’ social calendars are shaped by Mardi Gras balls and dances? Who knew entire industries have been created by Mardi Gras? Who knew?

At some point in history, the Twelve Days of Christmas celebrations were extended to last until the day before Ash Wednesday, the traditional beginning of Lent in Christian religions. Lent is a forty day long period of fasting and prayer, and people with foresight rallied on Fat Tuesday to get in all the fun they could before Lent began.

The celebration of Mardi Gras was exported to America by the French. In French, Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday, and Carnival means farewell to meat. French explorers Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville sailed up the Mississippi River, and on Mardi Gras Day, March 3, 1699, made camp sixty miles south of what is today New Orleans. In honor of the occasion, Iberville called the camp Mardi Gras Point. Bienville went on to found Mobile, Alabama in 1702.
Mobile is credited with having the first Mardi Gras celebration in the New World, which was initiated in 1703. Societies were formed and celebrations were held over the next few years in Mobile, New Orleans and Biloxi, Mississippi. Things took a turn in 1830 when the first Mardi Gras parade erupted spontaneously on New Year’s Eve in Mobile. Yes, it was alcohol inspired. That explains why the men involved paraded with hoes and cowbells and woke the town. Those gentlemen went on to form the first Mardi Gras mystic society, the Cowbellion de Rakin Society. The Cowbellions put on their second Mardi Gras parade in 1840, and this one was a little more formal, having a theme and floats.

New Orleans, now the center of the Mardi Gras world, started parading in 1837. In 1856, members of the Cowbellion de Rakin Society from Mobile went to New Orleans and helped some gentlemen there create the first mystic society in New Orleans, the Mistick Krewe of Comus, which held its first parade in 1857.

The secret societies are now an integral part of Mardi Gras along the Gulf coast. In Mobile, they are still called mystic societies or secret societies, while in New Orleans, they are generally known as krewes. The societies and krewes meet throughout the year to plan and decorate floats and “throws” which are flung from floats. Lavish balls are held by most societies and krewes during the Mardi Gras season. Some balls are still private, upscale (black tie and tails), invitation only affairs, while some are open to the public. Membership requirements in societies and krewes vary also. Some can only be joined if you are lucky enough to be invited. Others only require a membership application and payment of dues. Secret society and krewe events still play a central role in social calendars of Mardi Gras towns.

The Civil War interrupted Mardi Gras celebrations along the Gulf Coast for several years. In Mobile, the Union occupation after the war was a time of great hardship and discouragement for the defeated population. Enter one Joe Cain, a gentlemen and former Confederate soldier who was determined to lift Mobile’s spirits by reviving the Mardi Gras celebration. Dressed up as a mythical Chickasaw chief (a jab at the Union soldiers because the Chickasaw were never defeated by Union troops) named Slacabamorinico, Cain defiantly paraded in front of the Union troops to the delight of the locals. Cain is still synonymous with Mardi Gras in Mobile. He created many of the mystic societies there and started a number of the parades that still endure. He was active in the Mardi Gras community until his death in 1904. Cain started the Order of Myths parade in 1867, and it is still the final parade in Mobile each Mardi Gras. The Sunday before Mardi Gras is Joe Cain Day, and a parade open to anyone marches through the city.

In 1872, Russian Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich Romanov visited New Orleans and created quite a stir, along with a lot of traditions. Legend has it that local businessmen put on a daylight parade in honor of the Duke and named it “Rex”, Latin for king. The announcement of the parade was made by newspaper ad on Lundi Gras, or Fat Monday, the day before Fat Tuesday. The ad commanded New Orleans to shut it businesses for the day and to hand the city over to “Rex, King of Carnival.” Bands in the parade played the tune “If Ever I Cease to Love,” from the play Bluebeard, in which actress Lydia Thompson had a role. Ms. Thompson just happened to be in town for a performance during the Duke’s visit. It was rumored that the Duke was smitten with Thompson and “If Ever I Cease to Love” was his favorite song. Legend also says that the Romanov family colors, purple, green, and gold, were adopted by the Rex organization as its official colors. This may not be true, but it sounds good, anyway.

Today, Rex is still the King of Carnival, and arrives each Lundi Gras aboard a riverboat at Canal Street, where the keys to the city are handed to him. The daytime Rex parade still continues and its colors are the official colors of Mardi Gras. And yes, “If Ever I Cease to Love” is the official song of Mardi Gras. So a Russian Duke figured largely in some of New Orleans’ grandest Mardi Gras traditions. Who knew?

“The Gulf Coast Carnival Association is the main Mardi Gras society on the coast,” said Ms. Jones.

“The GCCA has a crowning ceremony on Lundi Gras, the Monday before Mardi Gras, where they present all of the new royalty, Dukes, Maids, the King and Queen. This ceremony is called a Tableau, and is open to the public. Later, there is a ball. The Tableau is a lot like a grown-ups graduation ceremony, where friends come to watch.”

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The GCCA traces its roots back to the first parade in 1908. Today its king and queen, known as King d'Iberville and Queen Ixolib, preside over two parades in Biloxi on Mardi Gras.

There are dozens of krewes along the Mississippi coast, and a variety of kinds of krewes.

“Some krewes are all female, some all black. There’s a lot of different kinds,” according to Ms. Jones. “The Biloxi Men’s Marching Club is made up of a group who just walk in the parade and give roses to women who will kiss them on the cheek.”

Each parade has a theme, and floats are created for that theme.

“Most floats are made by the krewe, but we do have some float makers in the area,” Ms. Jones noted.

The 2008 Mardi Gras along Mississippi’s coast attracted 450,000 attendees. One million, four hundred thousand pounds of beads were thrown, plus untold other pounds of different throws, like Moon Pies. With so many goodies being handed out, it would be hard not to come away with something from a Mississippi Mardi Gras parade. But if you’re worried, then plan to take in the parade in Biloxi. It travels next to the Biloxi Lighthouse on Highway 90. You are assured of taking away at least a unique memory . . . how many people have seen a Mardi Gras parade next to a lighthouse?

Ash Wednesday - The first day of Lent, it’s the Wednesday after Mardi Gras (Fat
Tuesday). Catholics typically attend church, where a priest blesses them by drawing a cross of ashes on the forehead, a symbol of penitence and the frailty of life.

Ball, bal masque - A masked ball, where a krewe’s court is presented to the club members. Old-line krewes throw decorous balls, often introducing debutante daughters
of members. Attendance is by invitation only and limited to krewe members and their guests. A few newer krewes have refashioned the balls into bashes with celebrity guests and nationally recognized entertainment. Some are open to the public for the price of a ticket.

Boeuf Gras (beuf grah) - French for “fatted bull.” Since the Middle Ages, it has heralded
the feasting and festivities that precede the fasting and penitence of Lent. The fatted bull was killed on Monday, and the crowds gorged themselves on their last meat, trying to consume it all before midnight, when Lent began. The Boeuf Gras is a traditional theme float in the Rex parade in New Orleans.

Doubloons - Commemorative coins struck for individual krewes. They are designed with the krewe crest or emblem on one side and the parade and/or ball theme on the other.

Flambeaux (plural, flam-boe) – Multipronged long metal torches fueled by naphtha or kerosene and secured by straps slung about the waist. Before portable generators and battery-operated lights, they were the only way to illuminate the floats of night parades. Traditionally carried by white-robed African Americans, they began as a symbol of Haiti’s independence, won in 1791, after slaves held a torchlight parade led by their priests.

King Cake - A party staple from January 6 through Mardi Gras day, the cake is named for the three kings who visited the Christ Child and whose feast, the Epiphany, is celebrated on January 6, the Twelfth Night after Christmas. Traditionally, the cake is a brioche pastry baked in a circle, suggesting a crown (although for convenience, large ones are oval). They are sprinkled with gem-like sugar crystals in the official Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold. A plastic baby (symbol of the Christ Child), or in some cases a bean, is baked inside. By custom, the one who finds it throws the next king cake party. Lately, the brioche recipe has been supplemented by a coffee-cake ring alternative.

Krewe - A variation of the word “crew”. Most carnival organizations, except those in and around Mobile, AL, are known as krewes. Most are non-profit and raise money for charity. The word was invented with a little creative spelling in 1857 by the first New Orleans carnival organization. The founders of the Mistick Krewe of Comus, named their group for a reference to “Comus with his crew” from John Milton’s poem, “A Mask Presented at Ludlow-Castle.”

Lundi Gras - French for “Fat Monday,” it’s the day before Mardi Gras, and the revelry intensifies after the weekend parades.

Mystic Societies (or Secret Societies) – Basically the same thing as a krewe. Mobile, AL calls their Mardi Gras clubs “mystic societies” or “secret societies”.

Tableau - A scene enacted by masked krewe members at a Carnival ball. Staged before the dancing, it depicts the parade and/or ball’s theme. Think of it as a short, short, one-act mime.

Throws - Typically, plastic beads and cheap trinkets hurled by masked krewe members from passing floats. The usual suspects include beads (from plain round beads in Mardi Gras colors to light-up-and-flash crawfish and other swamp inhabitants), doubloons and plastic cups. However, depending on the parade, you could catch a rose, a stuffed animal,
an Opheus (New Orleans krewe) virbloon (a virtual doubloon: a CD with video highlights of the previous year’s parade footage), a plastic alligator, highly decorated shoes, Cracker Jacks, a rubber snake, a Zulu coconut (a New Orleans krewe’s tradition), spear, or a Moon Pie (graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate or banana coating-prominent in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida – it’s a Southern thing). It could be anything from a pedicure set to candy. Many krewes have signature throws that are unique to them.

So 2009 will be the 98th Mardi Gras celebration in Galveston, a tradition that started in 1867. There were some difficult times in the past when the parades were discontinued, such as during World Wars, but the parades and balls will be alive and well this year.

 Galveston Island is absolutely hosting Mardi Gras this year, according to RoShelle Gaskins, Public Relations Manager at the Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“Ike cannot keep down krewe members strongly dedicated to a 98-year tradition,” Ms. Gaskins said. “Mardi Gras is a long-standing tradition not to be lost. This is a great venue for friends and family to get out and have some fun and see that Galveston is coming along strong. Mardi Gras krewes really pulled together for Mardi Gras in 2009, proving it is an important tradition to continue. This is also a great opportunity for residents to put aside recovery worries and enjoy the revelry of Mardi Gras.”

Galveston, following in the footsteps of New Orleans after Katrina, plans for Mardi Gras to be as normal as possible. Ms. Gaskins said that this year’s event will have, “…more than eleven parades and 50 galas, parties, pageants and events to choose from. Mardi Gras offers something for every budget and interest. Costume contests, pageants, and great entertainment abound.”

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The historic Strand District was hard hit by Ike, but is recovering. “Some shops along The Strand will still be in the remodeling stages of recovery and not open for business. However, there will be plenty to do including the usual Seawall parades and carnival. Downtown will host more parades, bead throwing and entertainment,” according to Ms. Gaskin.

Hurricanes will come, the best laid plans of man notwithstanding. The storms may wash away buildings, towns and even some dreams. But the fury of nature shall never wash away the indomitable spirit of the Gulf coast peoples. Now let’s all get down to Galveston for a “We’re Still Here!” Mardi Gras.

Inside each King Cake is a small plastic baby, a representation of the eight pound, six ounce, little baby Jesus. Tradition requires that the person who gets the plastic baby in his or her piece of cake has to bring the King Cake to the next party. A variation on this requires the recipient to throw the next party. Some Mardi Gras krewes, or societies, have selected their king and queen by who gets the baby.

King Cake parties abound during the Mardi Gras season, and as a consequence, a nice cottage industry has sprouted around King Cakes, and bakeries take orders in advance. Some preferred bakeries get so many requests they stop taking orders. If you find yourself unable to order your King Cake in time, or if you just like to bake, we’ve included a recipe. You’ll have to find your own baby Jesus. Happy Mardi Gras!

Traditional King Cake Recipe

1/2 cup warm water (110 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit)
2 packages active dry yeast
1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar
3 1/2 to 4 1/2 cups flour unsifted
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon lemon zest (this is lemon rind, grated)
1/2 cup warm milk
5 egg yolks
1 stick butter cut into slices and softened, plus 2 tablespoons more softened butter
1 egg slightly beaten with 1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1-inch plastic baby doll

Pour the warm water into a small shallow bowl, and sprinkle yeast and 2 teaspoons sugar into it. Allow the yeast and sugar to rest for three minutes then mix thoroughly. Set bowl in a warm place for 10 minutes, or until yeast bubbles up and mixture almost doubles in volume. Combine 3 1/2 cups of flour, remaining sugar, nutmeg and salt, and sift into a large mixing bowl. Stir in lemon zest. Separate center of mixture to form a hole and pour in yeast mixture and milk. Add egg yolks and, using a wooden spoon, slowly combine dry ingredients into the yeast/milk mixture. When mixture is smooth, beat in 8 tablespoons butter (1 tablespoon at a time) and continue to beat 2 minutes, or until dough can be formed into a medium-soft ball.

Place ball of dough on a lightly floured surface and knead like bread. While kneading, sprinkle up to 1 cup more of flour (1 tablespoon at a time) over the dough. When dough is no longer sticky, knead 10 minutes more until shiny and elastic.

Using a pastry brush, coat the inside of a large bowl evenly with one tablespoon softened butter. Place dough ball in the bowl and rotate until the entire surface is buttered. Cover bowl with a moderately thick kitchen towel and place in a draft-free spot for about 1 1/2 hours, or until the dough doubles in volume. Using a pastry brush, coat a large baking sheet with one tablespoon of butter and set aside.

Remove dough from bowl and place on lightly floured surface. Using your fist, punch dough down forcefully. Sprinkle cinnamon over the top, pat and shake dough into a cylinder. Twist dough to form a curled cylinder and loop cylinder onto the buttered baking sheet. Pinch the ends together to complete the circle. Cover dough with towel and set it in draft-free spot for 45 minutes, or until the circle of dough doubles in volume. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Brush top and sides of cake with egg wash and bake on middle rack of oven for 25 to 35 minutes until golden brown. Place cake on wire rack to cool. If desired, you can hide the plastic baby in the cake at this time.

Colored sugars
Green, purple, and yellow paste
12 tablespoons sugar

Squeeze a dot of green paste in palm of hand. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar over the paste and rub together quickly. Place this mixture on wax paper and wash hands to remove color. Repeat process for other 2 colors. Place aside.

Icing
3 cups confectioners sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 to 6 tablespoons water

Combine sugar, lemon juice and 3 tablespoons water until smooth. If icing is too stiff, add more water until spreadable. Spread icing over top of cake. Immediately sprinkle the colored sugars in individual rows consisting of about 2 rows of green, purple and yellow.

Cake is served in 2 to 3 pieces.