Carnival Season in New Orleans Mardi Gras is a tradition that can be traced back to medieval times. It is the celebration of life before the somber days of Ash Wednesday and Lent. Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday.” It is a time of feasting, frivolity, and frolicking before the six rigorous weeks of fasting during Lent. The Club will be celebrating Mardi Gras on Tuesday, March 1 st . Carnival Season extends from Kings Day (January 6 th ) to Mardi Gras. It starts slowly with King Cake parties in many offices and homes throughout New Orleans. King Cake is a sugary purple, green, and gold frosting-covered coffee cake with a small plastic “baby” inside. The tradition is that whoever gets the piece with the baby has to host the next King Cake party, usually the following week. Carnival in New Orleans builds to a crescendo and culminates during the last 12 days with about 60 parades over
the three-Parish (County) area with 1,000 floats and 600 marching bands. The defining characteristic of Carnival Season are the parades, but it is not the sheer size and number of parades that make Mardi Gras unique. Unlike Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Parade, which are spectacular “spectator” events, Mardi Gras parade watching is a “participating” event. The floats carry a dozen or so costumed members of the krewe, all throwing beads, doubloons, and trinkets. The parade-goers line the parade route, all trying to catch the most “throws,” especially the prized doubloons. We won’t have the floats, but we’ll be parading and dancing throughout the night.
During Mardi Gras weekend (Saturday through Tuesday), there are bands and music playing all over the French Quarter and in all the parades throughout the City. Next to the parades, it is the music that is important. It’s the kind of music where you just can’t sit still, and the streets are full of dancers and “Second Lining.” You will find out what that is at the Club’s Mardi Gras party on March 1 st . Unlike the rest of the year in New Orleans, food does not play a big part in Mardi Gras. It is mostly street food, with Popeye’s fried chicken, Muffulettas, and beer being the most popular. But don’t be concerned, our Chef will have a great Creole and Cajun food menu. Costumes and masks are another hallmark of Mardi Gras. They are most common in the French Quarter during Mardi Gras weekend. They are always colorful and often clever or risqué. The people especially enjoy satire of events and politicians during the preceding year. No person or organization is exempt from ridicule. The question, “What should I wear? What is the theme of Mardi Gras?” usually comes up. The answer is “Anything.” There is no theme to Mardi Gras; it is just nonsense and fun. Dress as anyone or anything that you would like to be or can think of. Nursery rhymes, historical figures, celebrities, and of course, politicians are all excellent sources for ideas. The main idea is that everyone is part of the party, not just attending a party. On Mardi Gras day, Tuesday, March 1 st , the Club will try to give you a good feeling of what Mardi Gras is like. Come to the Club and get a taste of the music, food, and fun of Mardi Gras. There will be lots of prizes throughout the night. So, make your reservations early and be thinking of your costume. Kathy and Roy Hershberger
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