Mardi Gras History (cont.)

The Krewe of Bacchus holds its parade on the Sunday before Mardi Gras Day ... drawing crowds of several hundred thousands every year. The Bacchus parades through the streets of New Orleans with its massive floats, marching bands, and ceremonial escort groups…ending up inside the Convention Center for a black-tie Rendezvous party of over 5000 guests from all over the country, featuring celebrity entertainment both before and after the parade.

There were those who still liked to poke a little fun at the ever-growing event. The blacks of New Orleans mocked the snobbishness and exclusivity of Rex with their own down-home parade. In 1909, William Storey wore an old tin can for a crown instead of the more elaborate crown Rex used. William was crowned "King Zulu" that year, and was proceeded by "Provident Prince" and the "Big Shot of Africa." The idea for this Krewe came from a theatrical skit entitled, "There Never Was and Never Will Be a King Like Me," about the Zulu Tribe. According to lore, that is how ZULU was born.

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The group wore raggedy pants and had a Jubilee-singing quartet in front of and behind King Story. His costume of "lard can" crown and "banana stalk" scepter was well documented. 1915 heralded the first use of floats, constructed on a spring wagon, using dry good boxes. The floats were decorated with palmetto leaves and moss and carried four Dukes along with the King. That humble beginning ultimately gave rise to the lavish floats we see in the Zulu parade today.

Zulus were not without their controversies, either. In the 1960's during the height of Black awareness, it was unpopular to be a Zulu. Dressing in a grass skirt and donning a black face were seen as being demeaning. Large numbers of black organizations protested against the Zulu organization, and its membership dwindled to approximately 16 men. From that lowest point, Zulu has grown tremendously over the years. This continual growth is credited to the members for their love, loyalty and dedication.

Donning black face and white eyes is another irresistible pun of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club. Zulu's original parade would meander from barroom to barroom in junky cars and wagons instead of floats. If you wanted to catch the start of the parade, you had to find the bar that was extending hospitality to King Zulu. This Krewe didn't establish a parade route until recently. Today, Zulu, with its beautiful modern floats, is one of the more popular parades of the season! They are also known for their unique, hand-decorated coconut throws, or Golden Nugget as they are often called… but only a fortunate few are lucky enough to get them!

The earliest reference to the coconut appears to be about 1910 when coconuts were given from floats in their natural "hairy" state. Some years later there is a reference to Lloyd Lucus, "the sign painter," scraping and painting the coconuts. This, in all likelihood, was the forerunner to the beautifully decorated coconuts we see today. With the proliferation of lawsuits from people alleging injury from thrown coconuts, the organization was finally unable to get insurance coverage in 1987. So that year, the honored tradition was suspended. After much lobbying, the Louisiana Legislature passed SB188, aptly dubbed the "Coconut Bill," which excluded the coconut from liability for alleged injuries arising from coconuts handed from the floats. On July 8, 1988, then-governor Edwards signed the bill into law. Through much adversity, the Zulu organization has persevered and is very much alive today.

But Mardi Gras is much more than its colorful Krewes…even the anticipation of the merriment is palpable, but once Mardi Gras begins, the city is held captive by a collective over-excited frame of mind! To some, it’s ALL about catching a strand (or two, three, four…more!) of beads…but to others, it’s getting dressed up in costume, or going to a Ball that makes Mardi Gras the one-of-a-kind event it is. Mardi Gras always falls on the Tuesday that is 46 days before Easter…always the day before Ash Wednesday, which is the start of Lent…but that actually marks the end of all the partying (Feb. 20). It’s the season of revelry before Mardi Gras that draws the big crowds and one name says it all…Carnival! Carnival officially begins on January 7, which is known as Twelfth Night or King’s Day, so named because it falls 12 days after Christmas on the day the Wise Men are said to have reached Bethlehem. By now it should be clear that the world’s biggest party is very rooted in religion…so, Amen to that and Hallelujah!

Carnival celebrations fall into two categories: public and private. The private celebrations are balls held one Krewe or another. Some Krewes are open to everyone while others are very exclusive and made up mostly of FONOF (fine old New Orleans families). The public celebrations take the form of parades, sponsored by the very Krewes that hold the balls for members only… MardiGras.com is the best place for this kind of up to the minute information.

If you’re not aware by now, Mardi Gras has its own colors: purple, green and gold, chosen long ago in 1872 by that year’s Rex of Mardi Gras. In 1892, the colors were given meaning-purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power. There is also a “food” that goes hand-in-hand with Mardi Gras and Carnival Season: the king cake. Sweet, roll-like dough is shaped into a big circle, cooked and brushed with purple, green and gold sugar or icing. Then a plastic baby, representing the Christ child, is tucked inside. Whoever gets the piece of cake containing the baby must, by tradition, provide next year’s king cake…(and of course, avoid choking)!

This will be the second Mardi Gras after Katrina and the city still must be seen as the glass that is half full…and Laissez les bon temps roulez has never meant more to this city in recovery. The good times will roll and one thing’s for sure…Mardi Gras 2008 will also be the world’s GREATEST party! One phrase is still heard over and over in New Orleans, “It is the PEOPLE as much as the place that matter…the people…ALL the personalities, all the nationalities…they make New Orleans great!” So, now that you know you aren’t just part of the party…you ARE the party…show up and make your presence known! Reach for the beads…grab a coconut and love a parade or two! Soak in the atmosphere all around as you realize you’re part of the biggest party in the world! Then send a postcard home saying, ”Wish you were here!” See you in New Orleans…it’s the ONLY place to be in Mardi Gras season!