Art Chowder January | February, Issue 19 | Page 69

M
ardi Gras is about music, parades,
picnics, floats and excitement. Revelers
wear costumes and adorn themselves in
beads and bling.
The first Mardi Gras parade held in New
Orleans was in 1837, and has expanded
over the years, embraced by residents
beyond those of French and Catholic
heritage. As a celebration of life before
Lent, it nearly always involves the use
of elaborate creations of masks and
costumes.
The traditions of Mardi Gras:
· King Rex: In New Orleans, the
King of the Carnival (Rex),
anointed by the mayor, proclaims
that the Mardi Gras season has
begun. Smaller gatherings be-
stow this honor on the one who
finds the baby in the king cake.
· King Cake : Originating in Old
World France, the king cake is
associated with the Feast of the
Epiphany, a liturgical period
following Christmas. A tradition-
al king cake is an oval-shaped
coffee cake, braided and covered
in icing in the symbolic colors
of purple (representing justice),
green (representing faith) and
gold (representing power).
· Masks: Mardi Gras and masks
belong together. The masks add
an element of mystery, and are
traditionally used to remove any
inhibitions due to social con-
straints — by hiding the identity
of the mask wearer, freeing them
to be whomever they want and
mingle with whatever class they
desire to mingle with. In New
Orleans, float riders are required
by law to wear masks. Masks can
range from fairly simple to quite
ornate. Many mask makers put a
lot of pride in their elaborate and
beautiful creations.
January | February 2019
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