Mardi Gras in New Orleans: It’ll bring out the kid in you story in the July 2010 Issue of Explore TACA

Mardi Gras in New Orleans: It’ll bring out the kid in you

By Donald Rodrigue

It’s been said by the residents of the neighboring state of Mississippi that New Orleans is a different world, and if your visit just happens to coincide with the city’s annual Mardi Gras festivities, you’d probably agree.

Although most of the world is familiar with the televised sights and sounds of Mardi Gras Day—also known as Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season—they’re actually the final culmination of several weeks of parades and festivities that begin this year on January 23 and end on February 8. Although the event is held on the same day as Rio de Janeiro’s larger and more flamboyant Carnival festival, Mardi Gras has its own distinct flavor.

Mardi Gras traditions in New Orleans date back all the way to March 3, 1699, the year that French explorer Sieur d' Iberville established his first camp on the west bank of the Mississippi River and christened it Point du Mardi Gras in honor of his native country’s celebration. The city’s own traditions really didn’t take hold until the late 1700s, when many of New Orleans’ French residents began holding pre-Lenten masked balls and fetes. After the area was ceded to Spain, the Spanish governing authorities feared the anonymity of masking and outlawed it, a ban that remained in effect until several years after the United States acquired the territory in the Louisiana Purchase. Street masking was officially made legal in 1827, and the tradition still carries on among the majority of the riders on the majestic parade floats. It’s also the reason that parade spectators in New Orleans can frequently be seen in costume as well.

The tradition of parade kings and queens dates back to the year 1872, when the Krewe of Rex was formed to sponsor the city’s first daytime parade in honor of a visit by the Russian Grand Duke Alexis Romanof. He became Mardi Gras’ first Rex, “The King of Carnival,” and chose the traditional colors of Mardi Gras— purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power—that still adorn modern day parades. Ever since that time, each krewe—the private and sometimes exclusive clubs that sponsor the parades—has chosen its own king and queen. In 1969, the Krewe of Bacchus began its tradition of celebrity kings with the performer Danny Kaye.

Since then, the Krewe of Endymion has chosen both a king and a celebrity grand marshal to ride on its floats. Mardi Gras celebrities over the years have included everybody from Bob Hope to Britney Spears.

Though the earliest parades primarily ran through the central business district, Mardi Gras has expanded exponentially with the city’s growth. There are now simultaneous parades held in all the city’s suburbs, many of which are family oriented. However, parades have been prohibited in the French Quarter since the 1970s due to security concerns.

First-time visitors to Mardi Gras are usually surprised at the level of spectator interaction during the parades. This is primarily due to the “throws,” or trinkets thrown by the float riders down to the crowds below. Competition for these can be fierce: it’s wise not to reach down on the ground for a fallen one—you could get your hand stepped on! When the throws start flying, the air is filled with waving arms and screams of “throw me something mister.” The custom of throws dates back to the 1840s, when the parade participants dressed up as aristocrats and tossed baubles and sugar-coated almonds to the spectators. The plastic beads so synonymous with Mardi Gras first made their appearance in the 1880s and have been part of the celebration ever since. Over the years, other throws have gained in popularity such as plastic doubloons, cups, toys, SNICKERS® Bars, Moon Pies and even skimpy underwear (new of course!). In fact, one of the most famous throws—and rarest—are the carved coconuts of the Zulu Krewe, the city’s first all-black parade group formed in 1916.

Although the media has focused on Mardi Gras’ debauchery and shenanigans in recent years, most of that behavior can be attributed to crowds of drunken youth and tourists in the French Quarter on Fat Tuesday. For the most part, the throngs of spectators lining the parade routes behave decently, and there’s always a considerable police presence to quickly take care of anyone getting out of line.

New Orleans’ visitors traveling with children might prefer any of the parades in Jefferson Parish (about 20 minutes from downtown). Here, whole families come to spend the entire day on Fat Tuesday, bringing chairs, food and even ladders crafted with seats for the littlest spectators so they, too, can catch their share of throws.

No matter whether you choose a downtown or suburban parade, you’re sure to feel like a kid again as you jump and shout and wave your arms for trinkets to take home from your Mardi Gras experience in New Orleans.

For more information on Mardi Gras festivities, parade schedules and visiting New Orleans, see the websites at mardigrasguide.com and neworleansonline.com.

Where to Stay
New Orleans is known for its wealth of luxurious and historical accommodations. Whether here for Mardi Gras or any other time of year, visitors will find great places to stay in the heart of the city just steps from all the excitement and action.

Stay in a piece of history
Perhaps no other hotel in New Orleans can claim such a storied history as the Fairmont, which served as the inspiration for novelist Arthur Hailey’s novel Hotel. The original structure was first opened as the 200-room Grunewald in 1893, followed by the completion of a 400-room, 14-story annex in 1908. The hotel soon earned acclaim as one of America’s most elegant hotels and was renamed the Roosevelt in 1923. In 1925 a new, 16-story building replaced the original structure, and the hotel became part of the Toronto-based Fairmont chain in 1965. The Fairmont New Orleans today is still a luxurious symbol of this enchanting city’s grace and charm.
fairmont.com/neworleans

The city’s newest luxury lodging
Loews raised the bar on upscale lodging in New Orleans when it opened up its fabulous new hotel here just over a year ago. High ceilings and picture windows provide guests with a spectacular view from some of the city’s largest hotel rooms. Facilities at the Loews New Orleans include a fitness center, sauna and pool, spa treatment rooms, a business center and 17,000 square feet of space for meetings and special events. Rooms even come equipped with a special Recovery Basket for those guests who overindulge in the city’s famed cocktails. Located in the heart of the city’s business district, across the street from Harrah’s Casino and just steps from the French Quarter.
loewshotels.com

Luxuriate in the heart of the Quarter
This elegant hotel on world-famous Royal Street has been welcoming guests to the French Quarter since the original structure was purchased by Antonio Monteleone in 1886. Since that time, four generations of the same family have overseen five major additions to the Hotel Monteleone, which has been christened a literary landmark for the cast of renowned American authors who’ve spent time here, including Tennessee Williams, Eudora Welty, William Faulkner and Truman Capote. The rooms at the Monteleone have been recently updated with marble and granite bathrooms, Internet access, on-demand movies and minibars in each room.
hotelmonteleone.com

Flying to New Orleans
TACA can fly you directly to the city of New Orleans from the city of San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

You can also travel to New Orleans from other cities in North, Central and South America with connections in El Salvador and San José, Costa Rica.. For more information, visit your nearest TACA office, our website at www.taca.com or call our Reservations and Telephone Sales Center in your home country. For a listing of our phone numbers, look inside your ticket jacket.

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