Fat Tuesday

In New Orleans, early generations of Creoles celebrated carnival season with organized masquerade balls. Beyond the walls of these private society dances, masked revelers would continue the party in the streets. Today, this tradition is maintained, with private society balls and public parades filling the pre-Lenten calendar.

The first New Orleans float appeared in 1857 when a group of wealthy and secretive Anglos, calling themselves the Mistick Krewe of Comus, paraded through town on floats lit by flambeaux (torches). In the ensuing years, new parade clubs formed, and they too dubbed themselves 'krewes' – an intentional misspelling of 'crews'.

Today, more than 50 parades wind through New Orleans during carnival season. Floats celebrate a theme chosen by the krewe and spotlight Greek, Roman and Egyptian mythology as well as historic events and modern-day cultural touchstones.

#mardigras #fattuesday #neworleans #creoles