Mardi Gras is a holiday like no other. If you aren’t from New Orleans, Mobile, surrounding areas, Louisiana, or nearby, you may not “get” or “understand’ what it is or what all the hullabaloo is about. What’s a king cake? Schools really get a holiday for this?
A study conducted about four years ago estimates Mardi Gras brings in about 1.4 million visitors to the Crescent City. Mardi Gras is a family celebration, despite what you may have heard or seen. There are places where you can go that aren’t so family oriented. Steer clear of those. Mardi Gras is a celebration of life that precedes the fasting and simple living during the Christian season of Lent.
But you don’t have to travel to NOLA to enjoy Mardi Gras. Hattiesburg’s Caerus Parade is in its 13th year rolling down Frontage Road and Hardy Street. There are also Mardi Gras celebrations along the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Biloxi, Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, Long Beach, Gautier, Waveland, Diamondhead, Pass Christian, Gulfport, D’Iberville, and Bay St. Louis. There are even two events further up in the state – a parade in Vicksburg over on the Mississippi River and another up in northeast Mississippi in Aberdeen,
The earliest recording of the celebration of Mardi Gras is 1699. In 1875, Louisiana declared Mardi Gras a legal state holiday. While war, economic, political, and nasty weather conditions have sometimes led to cancellation of some or all major parades, especially during the American Civil War, World War I and World War II, the city has always celebrated Carnival, the season of Mardi Gras.
Nearly 2,000 Mardi Gras parades have rolled since 1857. Their themes have come from history, children’s stories, legends, geography, famous people, entertainment, literature, and mythology. Some are known for their satire or political comedy, while others fit the theme chosen by the various krewes and are kept secret until the day or night of the parade.
During the 12 days leading up to Mardi Gras, nearly 70 parades roll in the New Orleans area. The largest parades, Bacchus (1,350 members, 33 floats), Endimiyon (2,500 members), and Orpheus (founded by NOLA native Harry Connick Jr.) roll in the final three days. Parades include floats, marching groups, horses, band members, dance groups, clowns, and motorcycle squadrons, often totaling more than 3,000. It’s like something you’ve never seen before.
Mardi Gras is free, and you are likely to
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