Carnival History
by
Renee Kutcher

Long before Mardi Gras arrived in Louisiana, it was celebrated in many European Christian countries. The word carnival originates from the Latin words caro (carnis) meaning flesh and vale, meaning farewell. Literally, people would give leave of flesh. Most likely this dates back to the pre-Christian Roman Bacchanalian feasts. The celebration spread. It became associated with Ash Wednesday, the start of the 40-day Lenten period. In France, it was popular to fatten up a calf for a feast the day before Ash Wednesday called the Beouf Gras (fatted cow), hence the name, Mardi (Tuesday) Gras (Fat).

Three hundred years ago on Fat Tuesday (Carnival day 1699) Mardi Gras was "introduced" to Louisiana. Pierre le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville and their men set up camp on the west bank of the Mississippi about 60 miles from where New Orleans would be founded. In celebration of Carnival, the site was name Point du Mardi Gras and the channel was called Bayou Mardi Gras (and who says these guys lacked imagination?!). They remain the oldest designated sites of NON Indian origins in the Mississippi Valley.

New Orleans was founded by Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville (we have streets in New Orleans bearing the names Iberville and Bienville) in 1718. Mind you that this was 7 years after the first Mardi Gras society was founded in Mobile, Alabama! Under the first French rule, Carnival balls were held at Governor Grand Marquis de Vaudreuil's (now really, just how many titles does one person need?) lavish home. The Spanish came and were not thrilled with the raucous masking, parading and ball stuff so, thanks to Governor Don Antonio de Ulloa, the celebration was banned. It didn't meet with much success as the proclamation was largely ignored. In the early 1800's the Bals Masque were so popular that a law was passed to limit the carnival season from January 1st to Mardi Gras day to keep everyone from celebrating it all year long!

The 12th night after Christmas, January 6th, is the official start of the Carnival season. It was the 12th night after the baby Jesus was born that the Wise men visited bearing gifts. In the 1790's Twelfth Night parties were very popular on Louisiana plantations. In 1792, the first public ballroom (La Salle Conde) opened in New Orleans. The following year, those pesky people in Mobile, The Spanish Mystics had their first parade on 12th night.

Mardi Gras balls were Pre-Lenten cotillions. Plantation owners would come to their town homes in New Orleans in November. Sugar cane is cut and processed in October, if you have ever been around the smell it is (ugh) very much like molasses (big surprise). It is very heavy and just permeates the whole countryside. I think they came into town just to avoid the smell! Mind you, the plantations were miles a part from each other, as well as New Orleans and opportunities to make love matches for daughters were slim. If your daughter did not make a connection (or you failed to arrange a match, often a business merger) during the season, it would have to wait until the following year.

In 1804, the first Mardi Gras crisis under American rule was over whether to play French music or English music. Thankfully that was resolved and the following year was the first Quadroon ball, but 1806 made public masking and most balls illegal AGAIN! There was a reprieve for balls in 1823 and by 1837 we have the first documented street procession. In 1827 it is said that the production at the Theatre d'Orleans was so popular that it continued until St. Joseph's day! (March 19) This continued until 1857 when Mardi Gras, as we know it, was born. Thanks to some drunken guys from Mobile, the first Krewe was born. The Mystik Krewe of Comus, 6 gentlemen costumed and masked, took to the streets in two mule drawn floats. Their theme was "Signs of the Times". The hallmark of the Comus Krewe was (and still is) their biting political satire. Sadly, the Civil War cancelled 4 years of celebration.

The Twelfth Night Revelers introduced the grand march at their masked ball in 1871, but more importantly the selection of the first Queen by drawing a golden bean from a King Cake. Incredibly, in the benchmark year, the introduction of throws came about by a man dressed as Santa Claus on one of the floats! In the old days, throws were glass beads, which have become highly prized collectors items.

Rex showed his regal head for the first time in 1872, with the first daytime parade to salute the visiting Russian Grand Duke Alexis. There will be more on him, as he was quite the rogue! Rex and the King of Carnival are one and the same and he reigns over all of Mardi Gras. The Rex Krewe gave us the official flag, colors (purple, green and gold) and anthem for Carnival.

Momus holds its first ever parade this year as well.