Mardi Gras – The Historic Facts

Scholars believe Mardi Gras began during Medieval times and may have been associated with ancient fertility rituals. Early Church fathers understood new converts? adherence to celebrations at certain times of the year. In an effort to lead them away from their pagan ways, they created Christian holidays around the same times. Carnival was one of the celebrations which were created and was set just prior to the season of Lent.

Mardi Gras is believed to have been brought to North America by French explorers in 1699. These explorers traveled along the Mississippi river and set up camp along the river. It is at this location, 60 miles south of where New Orleans now sits, that they established Point du Mardi Gras. Mobile, Alabama also has a long-held tradition of celebrating Mardi Gras with some people believing it was first held in that city.

New Orleans, however, is the site most people associate with Mardi Gras. Pre-Lenten balls were common in the area under French rule up to the late 1700s. They were banned by Spanish governors of the area and added back by 1823. By 1827 revelers were allowed to wear masks in the streets during Mardi Gras.

The first organized Mardi Gras parades were in 1837 but they were stopped because of the violent nature of some people in masks. The Comus organization was created in 1857 which ensured the celebration could be safe and festive for all those attending. It was also at this time the parade added a theme of floats and maskers wearing costumes.

The festivities surrounding Mardi Gras were halted during World War I. The Great Depression of the 1920s and 1930s, however, could not keep the parade and associated events from occurring. World War II caused Mardi Gras to be cancelled for four years but it was back by 1941. The festivities were stopped again during the Korean conflict and some of the smaller parades combined into one larger parade.

During the time between the 1960s and end of the 1970s many changes occurred. Celebrities were brought in to ride as the king (Danny Kaye was the first in 1969), the traditional ball was replaced by a supper dance and various clubs were added or removed. Mardi Gras grew during the 1980s both in the number of parades and the number of people attending each year.

Mardi Gras is not a North American institution and North Americans aren?t the only ones who celebrate it. In fact, you can find Mardi Gras being celebrated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and most European countries. It is also celebrated in the Ireland and the United Kingdom but goes by the name Shrove Tuesday. During this time eating pancakes is customary.

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