Updated 09:59 AM EDT, Fri, Mar 29, 2024

Mardi Gras 2014: History of Fat Tuesday, Parade Route

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Break out your multicolored beads, a feathered mask and a big drinking glass...it's Mardi Gras!

The majority of people across the nation think of Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, as one raucous day of parties and drinking down in New Orleans' French Quarter. While Fat Tuesday indeed includes copious amounts of drinking, there is much more to the holiday than that.

Mardi Gras has a storied history that dates back to medieval France. The origins of the holiday date back to 17th and 18th century Rome and Venice, which is when it was adopted by the French House of the Bourbons (the namesake of Bourbon Street, the well-known party street in New Orleans).

The French called it "Bouef Gras," or fatted calf, and brought it to the New Orleans colony when they colonized the territory. The holiday is a celebration before Ash Wednesday, which is the start of the Lenten fast in the Catholic tradition.

The holiday got the name Mardi Gras in 1699 when French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville arrived 60 miles south of New Orleans, and named it "Pointe du Mardi Gras" because he realized it was the night before the holiday.

The first Mardi Gras was celebrated in 1703 in the settlement of Fort Louis de la Mobile, according to Mardi Gras New Orleans. 

In 1704, Mobile created a secret Mardi Gras society that is similar to the present day Mardi Gras krewes. Mardi Gras krewes are different groups that showcase floats in the parade, with each krewe having a distinct theme. Today, krewes create gigantic, professional parade floats to parade throughout the French Quarter on Mardi Gras.

In 1710, the "Boeuf Gras Society" was formed, and paraded from 1711 through 1861. The procession included a fake bull's head pushed on wheels by 16 men.

New Orleans was established by Bienville in 1718, and by the 1730s, Mardi Gras was being celebrated in New Orleans.

In the 1700s, Mardi Gras did not involve floats or debauchery. The upper classes held elegant society balls, which were the model for New Orleans Mardi Gras balls that are still held today.

The holiday grew with each passing year, and by the late 1830s, there were street processions with revelers parading in masks, as well as carriages and horseback riders. The paraders lit "flambeau," or gas light torches, to light the way for the revelers.

The Mistick Krewe of Comus was created in 1856, and brought magic to the parade with beautiful floats and masked balls. The Comus krewe still exists today, and always parades a beautiful float each year.

Mardi Gras' second krewe, the Twelfth Night Revelers, was formed in 1870. That year also marks the first account of Mardi Gras "throws," or prizes that krewes throw out to the parade spectators. Today, krewes throw out beads, cups, stuffed animals and lots of other prizes.

In 1872, a group of businessmen created a King of Carnival, Rex, to reign over the parade. And to honor the visiting Russian Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff, the Rex krewe introduced the Romanoff colors of purple, gold and green as the official colors of the holiday. Purple stands for justice, green for faith and gold for power.

Most Mardi Gras krewes known today developed from private social clubs, and are still completely funded by the members.

Up until 1872, the parade floats were constructed in France. In 1873, the floats began to be entirely constructed in New Orleans. Floats are now very elaborate and always showcase a specific theme.

In 1875, Gov. Henry Warmoth made Mardi Gras a legal holiday in Louisiana.

Today, Mardi Gras features two weeks of events and parades, with krewes showcasing the biggest floats on Fat Tuesday. And while many think of Mardi Gras as an adults-only holiday, the parades are family friendly—just keep the kids off of Bourbon Street at night.

Krewes still hold balls after the parade, while the rest of the revelers usually go to Bourbon St. for a night of drinking and bead-throwing.

This year, parades were held beginning Feb. 15, and culminate Tuesday with floats from the Krewe of Zulu, the first African-American krewe, the Krewe of Rex, the Krewe of Crescent City, the Krewe of Jefferson, and many others.

The parade started on Tuesday in uptown New Orleans at 8 a.m. with the Krewe of Zulu, while the Krewe of Grela started in the Westbank at 10 a.m. The Krewe of Argus debuted at 10 a.m. in Metairie and the Krewe of Lyra debuted at 10 a.m. in Covington.

Mardi Gras New Orleans has the complete parade route for each krewe. Click here to see the routes.

People are encouraged to dress up for the parade, but to keep the drinking to a minimum (until later, that is).

New Orleanians also celebrate Mardi Gras by eating king cake, which is a round, cinnamon-flavored cake covered with vanilla icing and purple, green and gold sugar. The delicious cakes were originally baked in honor of the three kings, or the wise men who bore gifts to the Christ Child 12 days after Christmas. Each king cake has a plastic baby inside, and whoever receives the slice of cake with the baby has to throw the next king cake party.

While the balls held after the parade are invitation only, all other parade-goers are invited to dress up, strut down to Bourbon Street and take in the Mardi Gras revelry as only one can in New Orleans.

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