Every year, New Orleans shuts down and throws the party of parties. Everywhere else in the country, it's just another Tuesday, but, in New Orleans it's Mardi Gras! Mardi Gras is more than a single day of celebration. It's a state of mind.

Mardi Gras reflects and defines the cultural traditions of New Orleans. Most "outsiders" assume Mardi Gras takes place on a single day. This is true. Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday. Some time ago, the tradition was to slaughter a fatted calf on the Tuesday before the beginning of the Lenten 40 day fast. Thus, the coining of the phrase "Fat Tuesday."

Mardi Gras day or Fat Tuesday is the traditional day for masking. However, you'll find people enjoying this tradition beginning the Friday before Mardi Gras day. Mardi Gras costumes are elaborate. Sequins and feathers rule the day. Families and friends often mask as a group. It's not unusual to see a marching box of Crayola Crayons or a studly herd of bare chested firemen carrying a ten foot hose. Anything goes on Mardi Gras day. Even though the obscenity laws are still on the books, it's amazing what people get away with wearing or, should we say, NOT wearing.

A lot of people think Mardis Gras is a gay event - IT'S NOT!  Nothing like Gay Mardis Gras in Sydney - Although The French Quarter is often called the "adult" Mardi Gras in New Orleans.   Costumes can be more than revealing and there are some Carnival traditions (i.e. The chant "Show me your "insert preferred body part here" !) that would land a person in jail on any other day of the year. Police tend to look the other way at most of the stuff that goes on Mardi Gras day.

 

The lower French Quarter is the center for Gay Mardi Gras. This is where you'll find the more extravagant costumes. People come from all over the world just to strut around in costumes of their own design. Of course, going home with a prestigious Bourbon Street Award is often the motivation for their sequined madness.

The traditions of Gay Mardi Gras came into being in the 1950s. The first Gay Mardi Gras krewe was the Krewe of Yuga or "KY." This krewe was formed to satirize the straight, aristocratic Mardi Gras traditions in 1958.


In New Orleans there are now nine Gay Carnival organizations - Friday Night Before Mardi Gras,  Krewe of Amon Ra, Krewe of Armeinius, Krewe of Mwindo, People of Substance, Krewe of Petronius, Krewe of Queenateenas, Lords of Leather and Mystic Krewe of Satyricon.



See the full schedule at Gay Mardis Gras.com




February 19-24, 2009  

Mardis  Gras - New Orleans!