Lagniappe
(A little something extra)

So what is Mardi Gras all about?

Mardi Gras, or Carnival, as it is called in Europe, has been celebrated for centuries. In the United States, Mardi Gras goes back to the very beginnings of a French Catholic settlement in Louisiana, started in 1682. South Louisiana has been celebrating the tradition of Mardi Gras off and on for over 300 years. There is evidence that as early as 1867 Mardi Gras parades were held in Shreveport, Louisiana. Our local celebrations continued until the Great Depression. The Krewe of Gemini rolled the first parade in more than 50 years on February 24, 1990.

“Mardi Gras” is French for “Fat Tuesday”, the last day before the season of Lent is celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church and other Christian denominations.

Mardi Gras season in Louisiana begins on January 6^th, known as the Epiphany or Twelfth Night (it is twelve nights after Christmas). Twelfth Night celebrates the visit of the Wise Men bearing gifts for the infant Jesus. The season ends on Ash Wednesday.

Epiphany is also traditionally when celebrants serve King Cake. Legend has it that the cakes were made in a circle to represent the circular routes that the Wise Men took to find Jesus, in order to confuse King Herod and foil his plans of killing the Christ Child. In the early days, a coin or bean was hidden inside the cake, and whoever found the item was said to have good luck in the coming year. In Louisiana, bakers now put a small baby, representing the Christ Child, in the cake. The recipient is then expected to host the next King Cake party.

Purple, Green, and Gold are the official colors of Mardi Gras. Purple signifies justice, gold means power, and green stands for faith.

Throws—“Throw me something Mister!” — Throwing little treasures began in 1871 when a member of the Twelfth Night Revelers Krewe, masked as Santa Claus, pitched inexpensive gifts to the crowds. Doubloons (Mardi Gras coins), weren’t introduced until 1969. Today’s throws include plastic cups, beads, small toys, and Moon Pies.

Krewe is a generic term for a Mardi Gras organization; first used by the Mystic Krewe of Comus in 1897 to give its club’s name an old English flavor. The CEO of the Krewe is called the Captain.

Masked balls became popular from the very early days. The masks made mixing possible among groups of people who were often segregated, including slaves, free blacks, people of mixed race and the French, Spanish and English. Today, masked balls are traditionally where the krewe royalty is presented and “unmasked,” their identities being revealed for the first time that season.

Royalty of each krewe are either appointed or elected and serve as goodwill ambassadors in the community. Dawning their costumes, they visit hospitals, schools, retirement homes, and other places to inform and educate the community about the history of Mardi Gras and its social and economic impact on the area.

Last year the parades for Gemini and Centaur brought in over 400,000 visitors with an economic impact of over 14 million dollars.

Parade Floats — Many of the floats started out as old cotton trailers or old school busses. The wooden and canvas sides are built up, then platforms, balconies, bead storage areas, and bathrooms are added. Each float is decorated to depict the Krewe’s theme for that year. Originally pulled by horses, the floats are now pulled by tractors or heavy duty trucks. The largest float in Louisiana is located in Bossier and is a part of the Gemini parade.

Interested in riding on a float in a parade this year?

Contact us for information.

It can happen!