Mardi Gras in Louisiana

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 9 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #2,742 in Entertainment, #81,213 overall | Donates to Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation

Mardi Gras Feasting, Music and Fun

Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana is filled with lots of free fun. The parades are still rolling in the Big Easy, as well as on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain. New Orleans Mardi Gras is steeped in tradition with its King Cakes, Krewes, Grand Balls, Parades, Throws (Doubloons, beads and other trinkets) and fabulous Music. This lens celebrates Mardi Gras and all of its revelry and fun. Come join us to see the sights and sounds of Mardi Gras in the south.

Mardi Gras, the Biggest Free Show in the World.

Carnival Time by Al Johnson Vid 

Play the video to listen to Carnival Time to give you some Mardi Gras spirit.
powered by Youtube

What is Mardi Gras? 

Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday is a Roman Catholic celebration which begins on January 6th (Twelfth Night) and continues until midnight of Mardi Gras Day. It is a period of revelry before the Christian time of fasting and prayer called, Lent. The date of Mardi Gras depends on when Easter is, but it is always on a Tuesday and falls between February 3rd and March 9th, 46 days before Easter.

At midnight on Fat Tuesday, all the revelers are moved out of the French Quarter and the solemn Ash Wednesday begins. Catholics all over the world go to mass to receive their "ashes" in the sign of a cross on their foreheads. The ashes are the burned, blessed palms from Palm Sunday.

Future Mardi Gras Dates 

mardigras floatFebruary 24, 2009
February 16, 2010
March 8, 2011
February 21, 2012
February 12, 2013
March 4, 2014
February 17, 2015
February 9, 2016
February 28, 2017
February 13, 2018
March 5, 2019
February 25, 2020
February 16, 2021

New Orleans Mardi Gras Duel 

What do you think of Mardi Gras in New Orleans?

Loading Fetching blurbs now... please stand by

It's great fun - love the parades and the people.

TheGreenerMe says:

I love New Orleans, it's a really distinct city in the U.S. unlike any other.

bob robins says:

Love the music, parades & friendly attitude of New Orleanians

That heathen festival in the Big Easy - balderdash!

 
 
1 of 1 page
 

A Little History 

French colonists introduced Mardi Gras to the new world in 1766. The custom became popular among New Orleans Catholics and soon spread to other southern states. Today it is a legal holiday in many southern states, including Louisiana. The Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is the most popular, but Mobile, Alabama claims to be the first to parade in the United States.

The New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration includes parties, parades, balls, and many other festivities. Social clubs called, Krewes, pay for and organize the parades and other activities. The most famous Krewes include: Comus, the oldest, which was founded in 1857, but no longer parades and Rex, the king of Carnival, which was founded in 1872. Rex selected the official colors of Mardi Gras (purple, gold and green) in 1872. Then in 1892, Rex assisgned a meaning to each. Purple represents justice, green stands for faith and gold signifies power.

Mardi Gras Mambo and the Mardi Gras Museum 

powered by Youtube

Gaston Goes to Mardi Gras 

Children love Gaston the Green Nosed Alligator and in this book, Gaston tells all about the traditions of a New Orleans Mardi Gras.

Gaston Goes to Mardi Gras

Amazon Price: $11.96 (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now

Customs and Tradition of the Celebration 

Mardi Gras is steeped with traditions and customs. Some of these include: the King Cake, Throws (like Doubloons and Beads), Krewes, Balls, Costumes and Masking, Parades and Floats and special Music. Mardi Gras is a time of celebration and fun for Catholics and others before the serious and solemn Lenten season begins. Some of the night life in the French Quarter can get a little bawdy, but most of the parades and other celebrations are meant for the entire family to enjoy.

Mardi Gras Flag 

New Orleans "Mardis Gras" Flag - 3 foot by 5 foot Polyester (NEW)

Amazon Price: $1.99 (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now

Every serious Mardi Gras participant needs to show their colors and what better way than with this purple, gold and green flag with the crown.

Mardi Gras from Amazon 

Add your own item to the list

Feather Mask Mardi Gras

Feather Mask Mardi Gras

Enjoy Carnival on Halloween! Don the feathered mas more...0 points

Mimi's First Mardi Gras by Alice Couvillon, Elizabeth Moore

Mimi's First Mardi Gras by Alice Couvillon, Elizabeth Moore

Mimi and her parents enjoy the color and excitemen more...0 points

Gaston Goes to Mardi Gras by James Rice

Gaston Goes to Mardi Gras by James Rice

Gaston the alligator goes to New Orleans to celebr more...0 points

Mardi Gras Light Set

Mardi Gras Light Set

Wild and Crazy Mardi Gras Fun Starts with Decorati more...0 points

Mardi Gras Fedora Costume Accessory

Mardi Gras Fedora Costume Accessory

Top off your Mardi Gras costume with this great fe more...0 points

Mardi Gras: A Pictorial History of Carnival in New Orleans by Leonard V. Huber

Mardi Gras: A Pictorial History of Carnival in New Orleans by Leonard V. Huber

In this pictorial study, author Leonard Huber reco more...0 points

Classic Mardi Gras Parade & Float Films DVD: Historic 1941 New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade, Decorations, Floats, Celebration & Party Video Footage & Pictures

Classic Mardi Gras Parade & Float Films DVD: Historic 1941 New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade, Decorations, Floats, Celebration & Party Video Footage & Pictures

This is a terrific compilation of amateur film cap more...0 points

Masking and Madness: Mardi Gras in New Orleans by Kerri McCaffety, Cynthia Reece McCaffety

Masking and Madness: Mardi Gras in New Orleans by Kerri McCaffety, Cynthia Reece McCaffety

The dazzling masquerade of New Orleans' Mardi Gras more...0 points

Mardi Gras According to Wiki 

The terms "Mardi Gras" (mär`d? grä) and "Mardi Gras season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, ending on the day before Ash Wednesday. From the French term "Mardi Gras" (literally "Fat Tuesday"), has come to mean the whole period of activity related to those events, beyond just the single day, often called Mardi Gras Day or Fat Tuesday.

In Australia, Mardi Gras season: "NSW: Mardi Gras still alive

and well, say organisers", encyclopedia.com, 2003, webpage:

ency-596.

In London, Mardi Gras season: "Paul's Pastry Shop kneads a

ton of dough in Picayune", Allbusiness.com, 2008, webpage:

Allbusiness-35.

In New Orleans, Mardi Gras season: "Mardi Gras in New

Orleans | Metro.co.uk", Metro.co.uk, 2009, webpage:

Metro.co.uk-2315.

In Mobile, Mardi Gras season: "New Orleans has competition

for Mardi Gras", USATODAY.com, February 2006, webpage:

USATODAY-com-mardi.

In San Diego, Mardi Gras season: "sandiego.com - Mardi

Gras in San Diego: FAQ's", SanDiego.com, 2008, webpage:

[http://www.sandiego.com/seasonal/mardi-gras/mardi-gras-in-san-diego:-faq's/ SanDiego.com-SD].

In Texas, Mardi Gras season: "Let's Celebrate: Mardi

Gras 2008", Southernbyways.com, January 2008, webpage:

southernbyways-com-TX.

The season can be designated by the year, as in "Mardi Gras 2008".

The time varies from city to city, as some traditions consider Mardi Gras as the Carnival period between Epiphany or Twelfth Night and Ash Wednesday. Others treat the final three-day period as being Mardi Gras.The Season of Lent In Mobile, Alabama, Mardi Gras events begin in November, followed by mystic society balls on Thanksgiving,

"Mobile Carnival Association, 1927",

MardiGrasDigest.com, 2006, webpage:

mardigrasdigest-Mobile.

then New Year's Eve, formerly with parades on New Year's Day, followed by parades and balls in January & February, celebrating up to midnight before Ash Wednesday.

Other cities most famous for their Mardi Gras celebrations include Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sydney, Australia and New Orleans, Louisiana. Many other places have important Mardi Gras celebrations as well.

Carnival is an important celebration in most of Europe (except in Ireland and the United Kingdom where the festival is called "shrovetide" ending on Shrove Tuesday, and pancakes are the tradition) and also in many parts of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Mardi Gras in New Orleans 

The classic Mardi Gras album. A must have for all those who love Mardi Gras Music.

Mardi Gras in New Orleans

Amazon Price: $17.98 (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now

Mardi Gras, Music and New Orleans, You Can't Get Any Better Than That!

Go to the Mardi Gras by Professor Longhair 

powered by Youtube

Mardi Gras Music 

Music is our favorite part of Mardi Gras and besides being a home grown New Orleanian, my husband is a music collector and enthusiast. He has personally selected his favorite Mardi Gras music and has given a little of the history of each song. Here is his list of the Best Mardi Gras music of New Orleans.

The Best

Carnival Time by Al Johnson (1960) - Recorded by a local New Orleans artist is, in our opinion, the all time Mardi Gras Classic Tune.

Mardi Gras Mambo by The Hawketts (1954) - Art Neville and other Booker T. Washington classmates recorded it at Cosimo's Recording Studio in the French Quarter in 1954. It was arranged by local radio DJ, "Jack the Cat".

Go to the Mardi Gras by Professor Longhair (1959), with Dr. John on the guitar and Earl King whistling, gets more plaing time than any other song during Carnival Season.

Street Parade by Earl King, another famous New Orleans musician was recorded in 1972.

Second Line by Stop, Inc. was first recorded by the Skyliners in 1962, but the master was lost. It was recreated by Stop, Inc in 1974.

New Suit by the Wild Magnolias (1970) was recorded in Jazz City, Camp Street, New Orleans. The "New Suit" is the elaborate costume that each member of the various tribes of Mardi Gras Indians designs and constructs each year, to be worn on Mardi Gras Day. See this post from Home of the Groove for the history of the African American Mardi Gras Indians.

Mardi Gras Indians stamp
Buy Mardi Gras Indians by EdNewman



Songs Which Have a Similar Beat to Mardi Gras Music

Don't You Just Know It by Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns. This song which features a great New Orleans pianist, with Bobby Marchan as lead vocalist was recorded in 1958.

Oh Poo Pa Doo by Jessie Hill was recorded by this local artist in 1958.

Iki, Iko was first recorded by the New Orleans group, Sugarboy and the Cane Cutters in 1953. Then by the Dixie Cups in 1963. The 1972 version by Dr. John Follows Sugarboy's original format.

Electric Boogie by Marcia Griffin, a Baton Rouge artist, was adopted by the Krewe of Bamboozer's (of the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade)as their favorite dance.

Hey Pocky A-Way by The Meters (L. Nocentelli/A. Neville/J. Modeliste/G. Porter, Jr.) from Rejuvenation, Reprise, 1974

More New Orleans Mardi Gras Music 

0 points

0 points

Electric Slide by Marcia Griffins vid 


Electric Slide Marcia Griffiths - Electric Boogie @nigeriahit.com

Runtime: 4:02
136430 views
10 Comments:

Mardi Gras Indians Documentary Video 

Indians of Mardi Gras consist of "tribes" (with names like, "Creole Wild West" and "Mohawk Hunter") of African American men dressed in ornate feathered costumes that they constructed themselves. This abridged documentary is about the history and tradition of these groups which dates back over one hundred years and is an integral part of New Orleans Mardi Gras.
powered by Youtube

Ultimate Mardi Gras 

If you're a music fan and enjoy Mardi Gras, then you need this cd.

Ultimate Mardi Gras

Amazon Price: $17.98 (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now

Mardi Gras Music on Amazon 

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras

Special 20bit K2 Japanese limited edition issue of more...0 points

Cajun Mardi Gras

Cajun Mardi Gras

Laissez le bon temp reoulez! Renowned Cajun accord more...0 points

Mardi Gras on the Northshore 

Mardi Gras Music Amazon MP3's 

We hope you'll enjoy this classic Mardi Gras Music from New Orleans.

Mardi Gras on eBay 

Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

 

Bags for all of your loot are Mardi Gras essentials. They can also be used to carry drinks and snacks for the parade.

Mardi Gras Beads Bag
Buy Mardi Gras Beads Bag by naturegirl7

Mardi Gras Masks on CafePress 

Happy Mardi Gras Mask Tote Bag

Celebrate Mardi Gras in style with this design featuring a Mardi Gras Indian style mask in purple, green and gold.

Price: 14.99Buy Now

Happy Mardi Gras Mask Value T-shirt

Celebrate Mardi Gras in style with this design featuring a Mardi Gras Indian style mask in purple, green and gold.

Price: 11.99Buy Now

Happy Mardi Gras Mask 2.25" Button

Celebrate Mardi Gras in style with this design featuring a Mardi Gras Indian style mask in purple, green and gold.

Price: 3.49Buy Now

Dark T-Shirt

Celebrate Mardi Gras in style with this design featuring a Mardi Gras Indian style mask in purple, green and gold.

Price: 20.99Buy Now

Happy Mardi Gras Mask Large Mug

Celebrate Mardi Gras in style with this design featuring a Mardi Gras Indian style mask in purple, green and gold.

Price: 13.99Buy Now

Powered by CafePress

Go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans with Orbitz! 

powered by Orbitz

Our Other Louisiana Lenses 

Other Mardi Gras Lenses 

Throw Us Something, Mister! 

ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...

Welcome to The Totally Awesome Lenses Group.
Lizzy

ReplyPosted January 26, 2009

BigJim wrote...

Very nice lens. Interesting, informative, engaging. Excellent job. N'awlins is one of the coolest cities in the world and your lens is worthy of being associated with it. Angel blessing for you.

ReplyPosted January 12, 2009

Joan4 wrote...

I was in New Orleans in 1960's - and have wanted to return for Mardi Gras! Will put this on my Bucket List! Beautiful pics!

ReplyPosted January 09, 2009

chefkeem wrote...

New Orleans is only 9 hours away from Austin, Texas. I should go sometime and let your lenses guide me through a great experience of fun and good food. 5*s and a hearty SquidAngel Blessing thrown atcha... :)

ReplyPosted January 09, 2009

TheInfamous7 wrote...

Now thats a BIG Lens!! Great Work Naturegirl!
Blessed!! x

ReplyPosted January 08, 2009

 
1 of 2 pages