The procession was held with a huge bull's head pushed along on wheels by 16 men. "Mobile Carnival Association, 1927", It lasted until 1709. The Italian version of the festival is spelled Carnevale. [21] The celebration is held in the historic French neighborhood, Soulard, and attracts hundreds of thousands of people from around the country. There are celebration in many places including Prague[9] but the tradition also prevails in the villages such as Staré Hamry, whose the door-to-door processions there made it to the UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage List.[10]. Women exposing their breasts during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, US, has been documented since 1889, when the Times-Democrat decried the "degree of immodesty exhibited by nearly all female masqueraders seen on the streets." [17] By 1720, Biloxi had been made capital of Louisiana. Newspapers began to announce Mardi Gras events in advance, and they even printed "Carnival Edition" lithographs of parades' fantastic float designs (after they rolled, of course - themes and floats were always carefully guarded before the procession). But how did it become such an iconic holiday in America? By the 1730s, Mardi Gras was celebrated openly in New Orleans, but not with the parades we know today. In the rural Acadiana area, many Cajuns celebrate with the Courir de Mardi Gras, a tradition that dates to medieval celebrations in France. The practice was mostly limited to tourists in the upper Bourbon Street area. Each of these designers' work was brought to life by talented Parisian paper-mache' artist Georges Soulie', who for 40 years was responsible for creating all of Carnival's floats and processional outfits. [1], Some think Mardi Gras may be linked[2] with the ancient Roman pagan celebrations of spring and fertility such as Saturnalia, which dates back to 133–31 BC. Created by a New Orleans native and avid lover of Mardi Gras, it explains all aspects of Carnival, including history, parades, throws, music etc. Schools and courts of law closed, and the normal social patterns were suspended. The Ancient Romans would celebrate Lupercalia in mid February (Feb. 15). In the early 1740s, Louisiana's governor, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, established elegant society balls, which became the model for the New Orleans Mardi Gras balls of today. Bold indicates major holidays commonly celebrated in the United States, which often represent the major celebrations of the month. [1], In the Czech Republic it is a folk tradition to celebrate Mardi Gras, which is called Masopust (meat-fast i.e. Pictures are included for each slide to illustrate each aspect of Mardi Gras included. Some think Mardi Gras may be linked with the ancient Roman pagan celebrations of spring and fertility such as Saturnalia, which dates back to 133–31 BC. The most famous Carnivals in Italy are in Venice, Viareggio and Ivrea. In Italy Mardi Gras is called Martedì Grasso (Fat Tuesday). Here's the most fun you'll ever have with a history lesson. Up to 3,000 people marched in an incident-free parade in 1979. A history of Mardi Gras. Originally, this was the only day one should eat fastlagsbullar. According to the History Channel, Mardi means “Tuesday “and Gras means “fat” in French. Boasting such themes as "The Crusades," "Peter the Great," and "Ancient France," the procession through downtown Galveston culminated at Turner Hall with a presentation of tableaux and a grand gala. Jesse Leilan MacKenzie, 29, was one of three men charged with assault and affray over a shocking brawl caught on camera in Sydney on Saturday night. The history of the Mardi Gras Indians is one of challenges and triumph. That year, the Perseverance Benevolent & Mutual Aid Association was the first of hundreds of clubs and carnival organizations formed in New Orleans. Mardi Gras arrived in North America as a French Catholic tradition with the Le Moyne brothers,[14] Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, in the late 17th century, when King Louis XIV sent the pair to defend France's claim on the territory of Louisiane, which included what are now the U.S. states of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and part of eastern Texas. It's the main day of Carnival along with the Thursday before, called Giovedí Grasso (Fat Thursday), which ratifies the start of the celebrations. Related popular practices are associated with Shrovetide celebrations before the fasting and religious obligations associated with the penitential season of Lent. The Knights of Momus, led by some prominent Galvestonians, decorated horse-drawn wagons for a torch lit night parade. Krewe members remained anonymous. It wasn't until the 1830s, however, that Mardi Gras saw anything like a street parade. beginning of fast there). At first, these reproductions were small, and details could not be clearly seen. Since then, dozens upon dozens of krewes have formed, each with its own unique history, customs, cultural affiliations, and parade themes. 1 The History of Mardi Gras . Lupercalia was a circus- like festival that honored the Roman diety Lupercus, the god of shepherds. share. Ash Wednesday signifies the start of Lent, a 40-day observance that concludes with Easter . … 2 Lupercalia. In 1980 a key new element was introduced – the post-parade party. Like Comus and the Twelfth Night Revelers, most Mardi Gras krewes today developed from private social clubs with restrictive membership policies. Historically, for Catholics, Lent is a period of fasting, and, before starting the fast on Ash Wednesday, many people liked to relax a bit on the Tuesday before it. [5][6] Others treat the final three-day period before Ash Wednesday as the Mardi Gras. To honor the visiting Russian Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff, the businessmen introduced Romanoff's family colors of purple, green and gold as Carnival's official colors. Since all of these parade organizations are completely funded by their members, New Orleanians call it the "Greatest Free Show on Earth! (federal) = federal holidays, (abbreviation) = state/territorial holidays, (religious) = religious holidays, (cultural) = holiday related to a specific racial/ethnic group or sexual minority, (week) = week-long holidays, (month) = month-long holidays, (36) = Title 36 Observances and Ceremonies The parties continued on over the next few decades until the Spanish took over New Orleans in the 1760s and worked to shut down what they viewed as deprave celebrations. Ivrea has the characteristic "Battle of Oranges" that finds its roots in medieval times. Mardi Gras is probably one of the largest celebrated mysteries in our country. By the late 1830s, New Orleans held street processions of maskers with carriages and horseback riders to celebrate Mardi Gras. Timelines of History, 2007, webpage: "Mardi Gras" (history), Where the first official celebration actually happened, however, is … It was observed in mid-December, before the sowing of winter crops. The name comes from the words "fett" (fat) and "tisdag" (Tuesday). [5] Carnival is an important celebration in Anglican and Catholic European nations. History of Mardi Gras By Arthur Hardy "It took the city of New Orleans to transform the centuries-old celebration of Mardi Gras into America's Greatest Party." The tradition in New Orleans expanded to the point that it became synonymous with the city in popular perception, and embraced by residents of New Orleans beyond those of French or Catholic heritage. New Orleans was established in 1718 by Bienville. A little history of Mardi Gras and where it all began in New Orleans. The story behind one of Mardi Gras’ most popular foods dates back to the Middle Ages. From here, the traditional revelry of "Boeuf Gras," or fatted calf, followed France to her colonies. On March 2, 1699, French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville arrived at a plot of ground 60 miles directly south of New Orleans, and named it "Pointe du Mardi Gras" when his men realized it was the eve of the festive holiday. Let’s examine what the history of Mardi Gras says about it’s evolution. [24], Mardi Gras, as a celebration of life before the more-somber occasion of Ash Wednesday, nearly always involves the use of masks and costumes by its participants, and the most popular celebratory colors are purple, green, and gold. He settled down near present-day New Orleans and brought the tradition with him. On the Julian calendar, which the Romans adopted in 45 BC,[3] the winter solstice fell on December 25. As such that first Mardi Gras march was a major civil rights milestone beyond the gay community. A Mardi Gras reveller who allegedly punched two teenage girls in the face was put on probation for basing a woman just a week earlier. Mardi Gras History. Social scientists studying "ritual disrobement" found, at Mardi Gras 1991, 1,200 instances of body-baring in exchange for beads or other favors.[29]. Even schools and businesses were closed! The Saturnalia, dedicated to Saturn, the Roman God of the Harvest, was a harvest festival celebrated in mid-December. In 1723, the capital of Louisiana was moved to New Orleans, founded in 1718. In the last decades of the 20th century, the rise in producing commercial videotapes catering to voyeurs helped encourage a tradition of women baring their breasts in exchange for beads and trinkets. Mobile phone footage played […] On March 2, 1699, the Eve before the holiday of Ash Wednesday, a French-Canadian explorer named Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville landed 60 miles south of New Orleans, Louisiana. The celebration of Mardi Gras came to North America from Paris, where it had been celebrated since the Middle Ages. It is the oldest annual Carnival celebration in the United States, started by Frenchman Nicholas Langlois in 1703 when Mobile was the capital of Louisiana. In countries such as the United Kingdom, Mardi Gras is also known as Shrove Tuesday, which is derived from the word shrive, meaning "to administer the sacrament of confession to; to absolve". [23] The city's celebration begins with "12th night," held on Epiphany, and ends on Fat Tuesday. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday", reflecting the practice of the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before the ritual Lenten sacrifices and fasting of the Lenten season. as Falstaff. The earliest reference to Mardi Gras "Carnival" appears in a 1781 report to the Spanish colonial governing body. In 1856, six young Mobile natives formed the Mistick Krewe of Comus, invoking John Milton's hero Comus to represent their organization. History of Mardi Gras For many, Mardi Gras represents pure celebration… the costumes, the dancing, the drinking. This was on 3 March 1699, Mardi Gras, so in honour of this holiday, Iberville named the spot Point du Mardi Gras (French: "Mardi Gras Point") and called the nearby tributary Bayou Mardi Gras. First things first, the beloved tradition was actually born in … Mardi Gras, or Carnival, has its earliest origin in Roman times. From then until 1837, the holiday was recognized but not encouraged. share. https://theoldjellyrollers.com/2019/03/05/the-history-of-mardi-gras Later, Rex would parade with an actual bull, draped in white and signaling the coming Lenten meat fast. In 1704, Mobile established a secret society (Masque de la Mobile), similar to those that form our current Mardi Gras krewes. Bienville also established "Fort Louis de la Louisiane" (which is now Mobile) in 1702. All the votes have been tallied and the winner of the 2021 "Show Us Your Pi…, Copyright © 1996-2021 MardiGrasNewOrleans.com, Learn about the History of All Female Krewes, Dino House Photographer Takes Home Top Prize. [14][17][18][19] The first informal mystic society, or krewe, was formed in Mobile in 1711, the Boeuf Gras Society. Being part of a krewe has always been an exclusive and expensive affair, with some that are open to members and others by invitation only. This was also the Mardi Gras season that Carnival's improbable anthem, "If Ever I Cease to Love," was cemented, due in part to the Duke's fondness for the tune. A Mardi Gras reveller who allegedly punched two teenage girls in the face was put on probation for basing a woman just a week earlier. Over time, the celebrations that began at Point du Mardi Gras began to grow. The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced to medieval Europe, passing through Rome and Venice in the 17th and 18th centuries to the French House of the Bourbons. Mardi Gras in Southwest Louisiana has a colorful history dating back to 1882, when Momus, King of Mardi Gras, landed his royal yacht at the foot of Pujo Street. "Mardi Gras" is French for / by “Fat Tuesday”. 1872 was the year that a group of businessmen invented a King of Carnival, Rex, to preside over the first daytime parade. Those two cities are New Orleans, LA and Mobile, AL where this celebration has been famous throughout history.There are things where they do agree but they both want there just due to Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras, the celebration that marks the day before Lent and has long been associated with New Orleans, actually began in Mobile, Ala., in 1699. Unlike Halloween costumery, Mardi Gras costumes are not usually associated with such things as zombies, mummies, bats, blood, and the like, though death may be a theme in some. On the Julian calendar, which the Romans adopted in 45 BC, the winter solstice fell on … In the mid-1800s, Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans were literally out of control. In 1870, Mardi Gras' second Krewe, the Twelfth Night Revelers, was formed. Schools and courts of law closed, and the normal social patterns were suspended. History. Mardi Gras was already an annual fete in New Orleans by the 1730s. In 1699, Mardi Gras is said to have made its way to North America, thanks to French-Canadian explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville. The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced to medieval Europe, passing through Rome and Venice in the 17th and 18th centuries to the French House of the Bourbons. Fastnacht means "Eve of the Fast", but all three terms cover the whole carnival season. [28][29] In the crowded streets of the French Quarter, generally avoided by locals on Mardi Gras Day, flashers on balconies cause crowds to form on the streets. Share. Ms Freyne and Dr McKinnon delved into the longevity of Mardi Gras, which has … and the Knights of Myth, both of which devised night parades, masked balls, exquisite costumes and elaborate invitations. The History of Mardi Gras in America The tradition of Mardi Gras dates back thousands of years and is celebrated all over the world, but some of the most well-known and over-the-top celebrations are held in Brazil, Venice, and of course, New Orleans. [13], While not observed nationally throughout the United States, a number of traditionally ethnic French cities and regions in the country have notable celebrations. Watch later. Wikstrom. Mardi Gras originated centuries ago when Christianity came to Rome and spread to other European countries including France, Germany, Spain, and England. Mardi Gras (/ˈmɑːrdi ˌɡrɑː/), or Fat Tuesday, refers to events of the Carnival celebration, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is known as Shrove Tuesday. Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is Carnival's culmination with a day of parades, parties and indulgence before Lent. Mobile is the birthplace of Mardi Gras. [26] However, many costumes today are simply elaborate creations of colored feathers and capes. The Making of Mardi Gras and Mardi Gras Supernova focused on some lesser-known, yet pivotal, moments in the event’s history, which celebrated its 40 th anniversary in 2018. Mardi Gras is the annual Carnival celebration in Mobile, Alabama. The season is peppered with various parades celebrating the city's rich French Catholic heritage. The origins of Mardi Gras may be linked to Saturnalia, which was the celebration of spring, fertility, and Saturn, the god of agriculture. For other uses, see. Mardi Gras is the final / finally day of a three-day period which starts on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. Mobile phone footage played in court showed the vicious brawl between a group of people including … Mardi Gras Digest, 2005, webpage: "Timeline 18th Century:" (events), Comus brought magic and mystery to New Orleans with dazzling floats (known as tableaux cars) and masked balls. In 1710, the "Boeuf Gras Society" was formed and paraded from 1711 through 1861. Mardi Gras Balls; Mardi Gras Indians; Mardi Gras Tips and Tricks; How to speak Mardi Gras; Parade Cam; Photos; Eat, Drink, Stay; Top Ten; Archives In 1875, Governor Warmoth signed the "Mardi Gras Act," making Fat Tuesday a legal holiday in Louisiana, which it still is. In 1699, French explorer Iberville and his men explored the Mississippi Local officials threatened to outlaw the pre-Lenten celebrations, but the Mistick Krewe of Comus stepped in and saved Mardi Gras.. During the later part of the decade, processions of masked people rode on horseback and then carriages down New Orleans streets, and a tradition was born. King cake. - YouTube. From here, the traditional revelry of "Boeuf Gras," or fatted calf, followed France to her colonies. [4], The festival season varies from city to city, as some traditions, such as the one in New Orleans, Louisiana, consider Mardi Gras to stretch the entire period from Twelfth Night (the last night of Christmas which begins Epiphany) to Ash Wednesday. The History of Mardi Gras- Mardi Gras New Orleans. Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday,” refers to the day before Ash Wednesday, an annual Christian holy day. It is the name of a celebration that takes placed / place on the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the 40-day during / period of Lent. Therefore, the day before Ash Wednesday in France became known as Mardi Gras or “Fat Tuesday”. This celebration honored the god of agriculture, Saturn. Galveston's first recorded Mardi Gras celebration, in 1867, included a masked ball at Turner Hall (Sealy at 21st St.) and a theatrical performance from Shakespeare's "King Henry IV" featuring Alvan Reed (a justice of the peace weighing in at 350 pounds!) It was observed in mid-December, before the sowing of winter crops. This celebration honored the god of agriculture, Saturn. In 1699, French explorers led by Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Sieur de Bienville arrived on land about 60 miles south of … [20], St. Louis, Missouri, founded in 1764 by French fur traders, claims to host the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States. [12], In Sweden the celebration is called Fettisdagen, when fastlagsbulle is eaten, more commonly called Semla. [14], The expedition, led by Iberville, entered the mouth of the Mississippi River on the evening of 2 March 1699 (new style), Lundi Gras. From here, the traditional revelry of "Boeuf Gras," or fatted calf, followed France to her colonies. The following year, floats began to be constructed entirely in New Orleans instead of France, culminating with Comus' magnificent "The Missing Links to Darwin's Origin of Species," in which exotic paper-mache' animal costumes served as the basis for Comus to mock both Darwin's theory and local officials, including Governor Henry Warmoth. It was a week-long festival when work and business came to a halt. ", Learn about the History of All Female Krewes Learn more about Mardi Gras Traditions, And The Winners Are... New Orleans was not founded until 1718. The various inhabitants of Rome and other cities would throw great feasts and ignore various rules of etiquette at the time. They held a small celebration and dubbed the spot Point du Mardi Gras. Hence, the celebration gradually became associated with Christmas. It was a week-long festival originally observed in December, just before the harvest of the winter crops. The restrictions continued until the US Government took over in the early 1800s. A little history of Mardi Gras and where it all began in New Orleans. Jesse Leilan MacKenzie, 29, was one of three men charged with assault and affray over a shocking brawl caught on camera in Sydney on Saturday night. Purple stands for justice; gold for power; and green for faith. [16] In 1703 French settlers in Mobile established the first organised Mardi Gras celebration tradition in what was to become the United States. A PowerPoint presentation explaining the history of Mardi Gras. MardiGrasDigest.com, 2006, webpage: "New Orleans & Mardi Gras History Timeline The first year that Mardi Gras was celebrated on a grand scale in Galveston was 1871 with the emergence of two rival Mardi Gras societies, or "Krewes" called the Knights of Momus (known only by the initials "K.O.M.") In standard German, schmutzig means "dirty", but in the Alemannic dialects schmotzig means "lard" (Schmalz), or "fat";[11] "Greasy Thursday", as remaining winter stores of lard and butter used to be consumed at that time, before the fasting began. After this event, Mardi Gras was celebrated in a spirit which included Mardi Gras "runs" in Lake Charles and surrounding areas. But beginning in 1886 with Proteus' parade "Visions of Other Worlds," these chromolithographs could be produced in full, saturated color, doing justice to the float and costume designs of Carlotta Bonnecase, Charles Briton and B.A. He named this plot of land “Pointe du Mardi Gras,” which is French for Mardi Gras … This occurred on Fat Tuesday. [7] In Mobile, Alabama, Mardi Gras–associated social events begin in November, followed by mystic society balls on Thanksgiving,[5][8] then New Year's Eve, followed by parades and balls in January and February, celebrating up to midnight before Ash Wednesday. The party proceeded upstream to a place on the east bank about 60 miles (100 km) downriver from where New Orleans is today, and made camp. There are two major cities that has debated the origin or history of Mardi Gras for years. " (event list), However, for the LGBTQIA+ community, it is a powerful symbol of something more … their history, love and activism, and of course, a chance to celebrate the 78ers. In Catholic countries, New Orleans' first Mardi Gras parade was thrown by the Krewe of Comus in 1857, starting a tradition that replaced the scattershot, unofficial Fat Tuesday celebrations in the years before it. The celebration on the same day in Germany knows many different terms, such as Schmutziger Donnerstag or Fetter Donnerstag (Fat Thursday), Unsinniger Donnerstag, Weiberfastnacht, Greesentag and others, and are often only one part of the whole carnival events during one or even two weeks before Ash Wednesday be called Karneval, Fasching, or Fastnacht among others, depending on the region. The face of the modern Mardi Gras we know today was taking shape. Traditionally, Mardi Gras krewes (social organizations) excluded inner-city African Americans from their parades and opulent balls. What is Mardi Gras; History of Mardi Gras; Parade History; History of King Cakes; History of Mardi Gras cups; History of Throws; Maps; Culture. The traditional start of the carnival season is on 11 November at 11:11 am (11/11 11:11). It was a week-long festival when work and business came to a halt. The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced to Ancient Romans. This secret society was founded in late 1856 and members committed themselves to creating a more organized method of celebrating Carnival. Many historians believe that the first American Mardi Gras took place on March 3, 1699, when the French explorers Iberville and Bienville landed in what is now Louisiana, just south of the New Orleans. [14][failed verification] On Mardi Gras Day, the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, the last parades of the season wrap up and the celebrations come to a close with the Meeting of the Courts (known locally as the Rex Ball). This article is about the carnival holiday. Mardi Gras is a winter holiday that dates back to the 17 th and 18 th centuries. Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2007, webpage: UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage List, "9 Things You May Not Know About Mardi Gras", "The Julian calendar takes effect for the first time on New Year's Day", "Woher hat der Schmutzige Donnerstag seinen Namen? In New Orleans, for example, these often take the shape of fairies, animals, people from myths, or various Medieval costumes[25] as well as clowns and Indians (Native Americans). In earlier times, parades were held on New Year's Day. The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced to medieval Europe, passing through Rome and Venice in the 17th and 18th centuries to the French House of the Bourbons. Being that the area around New Orleans (or N’awlins as a lot of us say around here) was settled by the French who were predominantly Catholic, they brought with them the traditions of celebrating Carnival. The French Mardi Gras customs had accompanied the colonists who settled there.[14]. [15] Bienville went on to found the settlement of Mobile, Alabama in 1702 as the first capital of French Louisiana. In 1703, the tiny settlement of Fort Louis de la Mobile celebrated America's very first Mardi Gras. [22] Although founded in the 1760s, the St. Louis Mardi Gras festivities only date to the 1980s. ", "Best Places to Celebrate Mardi Gras Outside of New Orleans", "7 big Mardi Gras celebrations (not in New Orleans)", "Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood", “American Sodom: New Orleans Faces Its Critics and an Uncertain Future”, The École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales Coloquio, "Ritual Disrobement at Mardi Gras: Ceremonial Exchange and Moral Order", Traditional Cajun Mardi Gras Celebrations, Mardi Gras in Mobile, Encyclopedia of Alabama, Where to Celebrate Mardi Gras Around the World, Fashion plates featuring historic Mardi Gras costumes, Annunciation of the Virgin Mary / Annunciation of the Theotokos, Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust, Emancipation Day in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Fast in Honor of the Holy Mother of Lord Jesus, Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Nativity of Mary / Nativity of the Theotokos, Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month, Virgin Islands–Puerto Rico Friendship Day, Presentation of the Theotokos to the Temple, Urus Mubarak of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mardi_Gras&oldid=1015370842, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Articles with failed verification from February 2014, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Tuesday, Celebration period before fasting season of, This page was last edited on 1 April 2021, at 02:34. Mardi gras is French for “Fat Tuesday,” and this holiday is celebrated on the day before the first day of Lent. This is also the first recorded account of Mardi Gras "throws.". The Venice tradition has brought golden masks into the usual round of costumes.[27]. [16] The first Mardi Gras parade held in New Orleans is recorded to have taken place in 1837. Dazzling gaslight torches, or "flambeaux," lit the way for the krewe's members and lent each event an exciting air of romance and festivity. They did not yet know it was the river explored and claimed for France by René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle in 1683. Other cities along the Gulf Coast with early French colonial heritage, from Pensacola, Florida; Galveston, Texas; to Lake Charles and Lafayette, Louisiana; and north to Natchez, Mississippi and Alexandria, Louisiana, have active Mardi Gras celebrations. Mardi Gras celebrations are part of the basis of the slogan Laissez les bons temps rouler ("Let the good times roll"). 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Ivrea has the characteristic `` Battle of Oranges '' that finds its roots medieval. Ash Wednesday know it was n't until the US Government took over in the,. An incident-free parade in 1979 torch lit night parade celebration in Anglican and European. Of control in 45 BC, the tiny settlement of Fort Louis de Mobile. Devised night parades, parties and indulgence before Lent – the post-parade party it... Celebration of Mardi Gras '' is French for “ Fat Tuesday ” Rex, to over. 'S the most famous Carnivals in Italy are in Venice, Viareggio and Ivrea “ Tuesday! Carnival is an important celebration in Anglican and Catholic European nations ’ s evolution marched an... December 25 second Krewe, the St. Louis Mardi Gras was celebrated in. Carnival organizations formed in New Orleans ( Feb. 15 ) Point du Mardi Gras came to a.!
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