You remember that old song, "The Feeling's In The Air?"
( Me and my cuz's Nicco and Steve'O!)
You remember that old song, "The Feeling's In The Air?"
You remember that old song, "The Feeling's In The Air? It is that time of year that New Orleanians and those who have traveled to New Orleans have prayed for. It is Mardi Gras season in New Orleans, LA. In NOLA, the amalgamation of our city's initial and the combination of our state's postal abbreviation, Mardi Gras, French for 'Fat Tuesday', has become the misnomer for the entire season, that traditionally is known as Carnival.
As a whole, Carnival has archaic roots, dating back to the early days of the Christian Church.....Fat Tuesday (Shrove Tuesday on the liturgical calendar) is always the day before Ash Wednesday, which in itself is 46 days prior to Easter Sunday. The actual reasoning for the fluctuating date of Mardi Gras goes back several centuries to when the Catholic Church established a fixed date for Christmas, but moveable dates for other religious holidays. Easter was set to coincide with the first Sunday after the full moon that follows the spring equinox. Easter can fall on any Sunday between March 23 and April 25. Mardi Gras is then scheduled 47 days before Easter and can occur on any Tuesday from February 3 through March 9. 2035 will see the earliest Mardi Gras on record since February 6, 1951, which will be celebrated on February 6, 2035. Meanwhile, 3 years later on March 09, 2038 will see the latest Mardi Gras on record since 2011's Mardi Gras.
The oldest historical account of a Mardi Gras festivity in North America happened at a place on the west bank of the Mississippi, around 60 miles (96.6 kilometers) downriver from where New Orleans is today; this Mardi Gras was on 03/03/1699. To pay tribute to this occasion, Iberville named the spot Point du Mardi Gras (French: "Mardi Gras Point"). Mardi Gras is a regional affair, spanning from Jacksonville, FL to Lake Charles, through the coveted Acadiana region of Louisiana. All along the stretch, folks can be seen ready for the parades and if you are really good, you may even get to see it all set up! Mobile, Alabama is recorded as having the first organized Carnival association in present-day North America, dating back to 1703. By the time New Orleans was founded in 1718, 15 years of Carnival traditions had been securely established. It is only natural that New Orleans was credited with shaping the face of Mardi Gras to what it is today. On your next visit to New Orleans, take time to visit Mardi Gras World......It precisely is where 90% of NOLA Mardi Gras floats and parades are fabricated and originate on parading day.
The parades are hosted by Krewes, the mystical and non-mystical societies that are deep seeded in Carnival tradition, each one selecting their own Kind and Queen. Normally, most krewes are engaged in a non-profit pursuit, dedicating their altruistic selves to some notable cause. This selection of a royal court is followed suit by the entire Mardi Gras Association of New Orleans with the crowning of Rex and his Queen, who is a part of the Rex Organization. The pomp, circumstance and the pageantry have persisted over the generations since the Rex Foundation's inception in New Orleans in 1872. (((((((To avoid being redundant, don't call Rex, "King Rex" as Rex is literally interpreted from French to be "king.")))))
So, if you are not from New Orleans, find the locals on Frenchmen Street and along Magazine Street in Uptown and attend the parades. Stand in the midst of the neutral grounds, amongst the throngs of people screaming to the floats, "throw me something, mister!" If you are snarky enough, you may find the coveted doubloon or other noteworthy throws. At Bon Temps Travel of New Orleans, we wish you a very happy and safe Carnival season! For your ease and convenience, I will be tapping into my Uber and Lyft roos and providing transportation throughout the Carnival Season. Do not hesitate to contact me! Steven Roantes Bon Temps Travel of New Orleans (504) 402-5925 www.BonTempTravel.com "Your Gateway to The Big Easy!" ©2018 Bon Temps Travel Innovations, Inc. New Orleans, LA