As epic as the August solar eclipse was, to start our fall trip in 2017,
experiencing Mardi Gras, in New Orleans, for the first time with my daughter and
her family, was unique and equally special. We did one of our typical
crush-and-burn trips driving 8 hrs, on Thursday, and returning back to Chattanooga Saturday
afternoon. We needed the time to finish preparing for our next two-month
adventure exploring part of the southeast and southwest.
I think sadly many associate Mardi Gras with the Mardi Gras of the
French Quarter. It supposedly is a wild party where you can let your imagination
go wherever you want it to go. If you don’t know much about Mardi Gras, the
first thing to know the celebration is a couple of weeks with many parades
through-out the city. We were there Thursday and Friday before Fat Tuesday attending
a total of five uptown parades that traveled along St. Charles
Street.
Thursday
Night Parades
Knights of Babylon: The
Knights of Babylon was founded in 1939 by a group of professional men who
wanted to stage a first-class parade for the public and a first-class tableau
ball for their ladies. Widely respected as one of the iconic New Orleans
Carnival organizations, Babylon annually presents the first evening parade on
the Thursday before Fat Tuesday. Many people consider Babylon the kick-off
parade for Mardi Gras weekend, and it is not unusual to hear from a local that,
“CARNIVAL BEGINS WHEN BABYLON ROLLS."
Knights of Chaos: The
Knights of Chaos was organized during the summer of 2000. The group is made up
of veterans of other parading and non-parading Carnival krewes. Chaos parades
on the Thursday before Fat Tuesday, a night that for more than a century had
been known as “Momus Thursday.” (The Knights of Momus paraded from 1872-1992,
when they departed the streets). Chaos employs Momus floats and presents a
satirical parade in the grand Momus tradition.
Krewe of Muses: Organized in
2000, the Krewe of Muses is named after the legendary daughters of Zeus. In
Greek mythology, muses were patrons of the arts and sciences, as well as
sources of inspiration for artists, poets, philosophers, and musicians. The
parade has become one of Mardi Gras' favorites, thanks to its humorous and
biting parade themes. Each year, in addition to their year-long philanthropic
works, the Muses host a design contest for students in the area. The winner
rides as a guest of the krewe and his or her design is turned into a throw cup!
In addition to allowing students to design their throw cup logos, they also
have had children design their masks. Now those duties have been passed along
to adults, such as senior citizens and other adults in rehabilitative
environments that may have not been able to participate in the parade as parade
goers.
Friday Night Parades
Hermes: During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the
Carnival schedule had shrunk to only three parades staged on Mardi Gras Eve and
on Fat Tuesday. To offer visitors more days to enjoy the pleasures of the
season, a group of businessmen formed the Knights of Hermes in 1937, staging a
parade that would bridge the weekend before the arrival of Rex. The founders
chose Hermes, the Greek messenger of the gods, as their namesake. A golden
statue of the sandaled, winged courier appears at the head of the procession. Hermes’ 1938 introduction of neon lighting as a means of
float illumination was a first for Mardi Gras.
