Happy Fat Tuesday Open Comments

1900 Mobile Alabama Poster

Mardi Gras is the final day of Carnival (also known as Shrovetide or Fastelavn; it thus falls on the day before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday“, referring to it being the last day of consuming rich, fatty foods, most notably red meat, in preparation for the Christian fasting season of Lent, during which such foods are avoided.

The French Canadian explorer Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville helped organize the first American Mardi Gras party.There is a popular misconception that Mardi Gras in the United states began New Orleans, Louisiana.Technically yes it was created in Louisiana but it was in Mobile when Mobile was the first capital of French Louisiana (1702).  French Catholics created the Mardi Gras festival as a means to consume the meats and other food items that they were to abstain eating during the 53 day period before Easter.  Many Protestant denominations formally followed the tradition ofLent with the exception of Anabaptist and Baptists.

(NOTE)  The history of Mardi Gras originates in what is now Italy. Dating back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites, the holiday shaped into its current self in heavily Roman Catholic countries. Also known as Carnival in many parts of the world, the holiday takes place right before Lent and is all about celebrating before a season of fasting and penance.

Flambeaux: It’s a Mardi Gras tradition that has become revered as an art form today, having blossomed well beyond the practical purpose it first served, providing light for revelers at night. Flambeaux: It’s a Mardi Gras tradition that has become revered as an art form today, having blossomed well beyond the practical purpose it first served.

Parades and Floats (New Orleans):  In 1827 a group of students copied what they had seen in Paris and paraded down the street in costumes and masks.   10 years later floats were added to the parades.

The historic and royal Krewe of Rex rolls every Mardi Gras Day.

The Krewes: In 1856, the Krewes formed in New Orleans. This secret society of businessmen founded the Krewes as an organization dedicated specifically to celebrating Mardi Gras. They organized elaborate floats for parades, along with masked balls.

Throwing Beads:  This tradition is believed to have started in the late 19th century when a carnival king threw out fake gems and jewelry to his supporters. Mardi Gras parade revelers have a blast catching the beads all in fun. In fact, every year, over 25 million pounds of Mardi Gras beads are thrown from floats.

PRO TIP: You do not have to be a flasher to be assured of getting beads.  Station. yourself near the end of the parade route, the people on the float will throw bags of beads to the crowd so they do not arrive at the end with untosseed beads.

Speaking of flashing:

Ann Lyneah Curtis in 2020  PHOTO COURTESY ANN LYNEA CURTIS

Mardi Gras flashback: Texas artist, 65, says she was first to bare breasts for beads at Carnival

Flashing for beads:

While the practice isn’t widely condoned, it’s nevertheless a custom of modern Mardi Gras.

Ann Lyneah Curtis, 65, of Harper, Texas, says she was the first to do it, on a Fat Tuesday in 1976.

And her claim, according to an LSU sociology professor, is completely plausible.

It happened on a Mardi Gras morning nearly 45 years ago as floats passed on Canal Street. Curtis, then a 21-year old French Quarter artist, was sitting on a friend’s shoulder above the crowds, begging for throws. She stretched down the top of her shirt to make her bare chest visible to the riders. The beads rained down.

Ann Lyneah Curtis in 1976. (PROVIDED PHOTO)
PHOTO COURTESY ANN LYNEA CURTIS

As I researched this particular portion of my post other sources say that most flashing takes place on bourbon Street NOLA.  In Galveston is expressly forbidden to flash for breads.  There is a hefty fine and possible jail time.

GHOST CITY TOURS says there is a dark side to Mardi Gras.

Pagan Rituals of Lupercalia and Saturnalia: Declared a legal holiday in Louisiana in 1875, Mardi Gras actually dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility celebrations in ancient Rome. When Christianity first arrived in Rome, the traditions of pagan Lupercalia and Saturnalia weren’t eradicated, instead they were carried on and incorporated into their new Christian religion.

So there you go.  A small portion of the good, the bad and the ugly side of Mardi Gras.