Mardi Gras | Research & Encyclopedia Articles

Mardi Gras, as we know it today, is the descendent of old fertility rites celebrating the coming of spring and the rebirth of vegetation. Gradually these pagan ceremonies were incorporated into orthodox Christianity, and the pre-Lenten celebration, which begins with the Feast of Epiphany and ends on Ash Wednesday, came generally to be known as Carnival. Derived from the old Italian carnelevare, which means taking meat away, Carnival became a kind of festival, or final fling, before a period of fasting. In France, and later in Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans, the celebration was known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday. In England, it was called Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday, because the meat-fats were used to make pancakes.

Although Mardi Gras in America is generally associated with New Orleans, where half a million people or more gather to celebrate, Carnival actually began in Mobile in 1704, when Nicholas Langois established the Societe de Saint Louis at Fort Louis de la Mobile at 27-Mile Bluff. Later, when the city of Mobile moved to its present site, Michael Krafft, a 23-year-old Pennsylvanian working as a cotton broker, and several of his friends began a celebration on New Year's Eve, 1830, after dining at a local restaurant. They left the restaurant, gathered up rakes, hoes, and cowbells, and initiated a parade through the city. Stopping at the home of the mayor, John Stocking, Jr., they were invited in for refreshments. The society Cowbellion de Rakin was born—and with it the mystic orders of Mardi Gras. From this beginning, New Orleans developed pageants of decorated floats and became famous for its parades.

Mardi Gras had a polarizing focus in New Orleans and Mobile due to its segregation and class participation. From the beginning, anyone could stand along the parade route, shout "throw me something mister," and gather doubloons (those prized aluminum disks with the insignia of the krewe etched upon one side and the theme on the other) or "moon pies," the marshmallow cookies frequently tossed from floats in Mobile. However, a distinction exists between those who ride the floats and those who lead the balls, between the King, Queen, maids, and dukes who dispense the trinkets and those who stand on the streets waiting to catch the "throws"—the beads, plastic cups, doubloons, and toys.

It may be said that the conservatism associated with Mardi Gras has been detrimental to progress. The expense of time, money, and energy involved in partying and revelry might be spent in more constructive ways, in spite of the fact that Carnival promotes the tourist industry and thus the local economy.

In fact, Mardi Gras has created the ultimate anti-establishment irony, in which a King of Mirth becomes elevated to the establishment whereby the eligible daughters of upper society leaders are presented at a coming-out ceremony. In spite of such pseudo—royal shenanigans, Mardi Gras actualizes a shared experience of joy. It brings people together to experience a time of mystery and magic—and that is perhaps why it has become one of the greatest parties on earth. As they say in New Orleans: "Laissez les bon temps rouler." Let the good times roll.

Bagert, Brod and Charlie Smith. Thros Me Somethin' Mistuh: The Mardi Gras Book. New Orleans, Juliahouse, 1995.

Barnes, Judy, J. O. Lane Edwards, Caroline Lee Goodloe, and Laurel Wilson. Coasting Through Mardi Gras. Point Clear, Alabama, Coasting, 1995.

Schindler, Henri. Mardi Gras: New Orleans. Paris, New York, 1997.

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