The New Orleans Carnival: Origins And Festivities
City of jazz, New Orleans in Louisiana also has its carnival where all the eccentricities are allowed. We propose you to discover the carnival of New Orleans, also known as 'Mardi Gras'.
Presentation
The New Orleans Carnival, is the most famous carnival in the United States. It takes place every year in Louisiana's largest city starting on Mardi Gras and during Lent.
This festival is often referred to as Mardi Gras because in Louisiana, this name has the meaning of 'carnival'.
The Americans pronounce this name as in French (but with an English r) and wish each other, on this occasion, a 'Happy Mardi Gras!
Origins of this carnival
New Orleans Carnival was introduced to Louisiana by early French settlers. This festival is attested to from 1699.
The first Mardi Gras in New Orleans was held on March 3, 1699. It was originally a ceremony held in honor of the explorer René Robert Cavelier. The latter had given the name 'Mardi Gras point' to a strip of land located in the Mississippi Delta, about a hundred kilometers south of the future New Orleans.
History of the carnival
New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne and became the capital of Louisiana (then a French colony) in 1722. Louisiana was acquired by the United States in 1803. Even then, there were dances and other festivities to celebrate Mardi Gras.
Once suppressed by Spanish governors, Mardi Gras celebrations were reintroduced in 1823 and legalized four years later.
The tradition of a Mardi Gras night parade was established in 1857.
Since 1870, New Orleans carnival parades have consisted of floats and marching bands, the marching bands.
In the 19th century, the Mystick Krewe of Comus created the brotherhood system (or krewe in English). These brotherhoods still sponsor most of the Carnival parades and balls today.
Festivities
The New Orleans carnival consists of parades, balls and galettes des Rois.
During the parades, the costumed people on the floats throw necklaces, cups, doubloons and all sorts of objects to the crowd...
The colors of New Orleans Mardi Gras are purple, gold and green. Purple would symbolize justice, green would symbolize faith, and gold would symbolize power.
