Mardi Gras tradition still attracts crowds after 308 years

Mardi Gras in New Orleans has come a long way. First celebrated in Mobile, Ala. in 1699, its history has become its own legend.
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With so many different festivities, New Orleans’ Mardi Gras celebrations remain as one of high interest, tradition and culture; yet there still is much debate about the tradition’s beginnings.
Mardi Gras, French for Fat Tuesday, is the day before Ash Wednesday (Feb. 6, 2008). Often Mardi Gras is used incorrectly to describe the two weeks preceding Ash Wednesday.
Fat Tuesday can fall on any Tuesday between Feb. 3 and Mar. 9 and is approximately 49 days before Easter.
Mobile historians believe that Mardi Gras was first celebrated on United States soil in 1699, when Pierre Le Moyne’ declared “Pointe du Mardi Gras” at the end of U.S. Highway 1 in Louisiana.
In 1705, Mardi Gras began to become a holiday of remembrance of homeland roots and native customs; however, it was not until 1710 that French settlers began to delegate a particular Tuesday and celebrate it as the actual Mardi Gras Day.
Louisiana Governor Henry Warmoth and Lieutenant Governor Pickney Pinchback incorporated the Mardi Gras Act in 1875, which established Mardi Gras as a legal holiday-Louisiana is the only state in which this act has remained in existence.
Those who celebrate Carnival and Mardi Gras do so with their various native traditional rituals, music, feasts and folk drama viewings; New Orleans’ celebrations are no different.
Traditionally New Orleans’ Mardi Gras participants gather in one area or several surrounding areas throughout the city and participate in parades, pageantry and festive dance. Participants also enjoy several gourmet delicacies while preparing for the next event.
John Cutrer, a freshman criminal justice major from Amite, has celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans since he was nine. This year he will celebrate the holiday in New Orleans on Bourbon St. as he has in the past, with friends and relatives.
Debra Harrison, a Southern alum and Monroe native, has celebrated Mardi Gras ever since she can remember.
Since relocating to Texas in 2000, she has continued the traditional New Orleans Mardi Gras festivities through an annual party where a king and queen is crowned (similar to New Orleans’ traditional Mardi Gras balls).
Traditionally those who celebrate the holiday, often dress in purple (justice), green (faith) and gold (power), colors introduced by the Krewe Rex.
According to the Mardi Gras DIGEST web page, Krewes are similar to Mobile’s “Mystic Societies.” The major dissimilarity is that membership in to a “Mystic Society” is generalized as very exclusive. When the Mystic Societies came to New Orleans they were known as Krewes (crews).
Krewes generally are named after mythological figures and typically throw beads, candy, emblems, stuffed toys, treats and other novelties from decorated floats (festival vehicles) to on lookers.
Hurricane Katrina’s effect on Mardi Gras and the city of New Orleans was devastating, causing the future of festival season in Louisiana to be in grave jeopardy.
“Without participants, the city is not receiving the funding the celebration once generated,” expressed Harrison.
The flood water devastated Louisiana and its atmosphere as a whole; however, there’s one thing for sure, there’s nothing that can keep this vibrant city down.