mardi gras >>> new orleans la

It's Mardi Gras Time Again!
The streets and balconies are filled all over the world.

Photo Illustration by: Herbie Martin

New Orleans -- Mardi Gras started long before the French habituated the lands bordering the banks of the Mighty Mississippi. Historians have made it clear that ancient fertility rituals performed to welcome the coming of Spring, a time of rebirth, began in Europe.

A Mardi Gras type festival was celebrated in the Italian town of Lupercalia near Rome. This was a celebration around mid-February. The early Church leaders diverted theses pagan practices toward a more Christian focus. Little did they know that it will evolve into what it is today.

Mardi Gras simply means Fat Tuesday in French. The the last day before the Lent. This is the season of prayer and fasting observed by the Roman Catholic Church and other Christian denominations during the forty days and seven Sundays before Easter Sunday.

An interesting fact of Mardi Gras is that it can only occur on any Tuesday from February 3 through March 9 since Easter can only be on any Sunday from March 23 to April 25.The exact day is set to coincide with the first Sunday after the full moon following the Spring Equinox.

Confused? Check your local Gregorian calendar, for the exact day for Mardi Gras each year.

The French city of New Orleans saw its first Mardi Gras around the Seventeenth Century. It consisted of citizens wearing masks on foot, in carriages, and on horseback. The first documented parade was in 1837. Authorities banned street masking by the late 1830's because of the wild parties.

The ban didn't stop the hard core folks of the Bayou. Legend say that six men from Mobile Alabama saved Mardi Gras. The Cowbellians, as they were called, were a group that performed New Years Eve parades in nearby Mobile since 1831.

The first New Orleans Carnival parade was on the evening of Mardi Gras in 1857. The Mystick Krewe of Comus was established, party was in order. Two mule-driven floats were it for the very first parade.

The festivities continued until the Civil War. It did not stopped, but it nearly did. After peace was restored, the party returned better and bigger than ever. New Krewes were added and the rest is as they say, is history. (Who are they, and why do they get to say what they say?) Nevermind!

Today, Mardi Gras it's without a doubt the largest attraction of the Crescent City, bringing herds of people by the thousands giving this Creole economy millions of dollars. Most local businesses love it and simply call it the "Greatest Free Show on Earth".

Now, you can become an instant celebrity by just pulling your top off. Scores of flashing bulbs will go off every time. The cameras are everywhere from professional photographic and video equipment to throw away cardboard cameras. It really does not matter your age, race or even shape. The evidence is there on such videos like Girls Gone Wild. Years from now you may even find yourself on the WEB.

Oh yeah! the things women do for a collar of plastic beads. Some have been known to expose more than just their tops for the gift of plastic, yes plastic!

Then again, I am not surprised at all, for years plastic has been known to provide a great charge of pleasure economically, as well sexually to many women around the globe.

Mardi Gras is more than beads and flashing coeds on the French Quarter. The food is exquisite, just ask anyone. Feel free to adventure yourself onto the different tastes of the city.

The music is a truly an amazing spectrum of sound. It is also a big part of not only the New Orleans heritage, but American History as well. You can hear the artists play throughout the city.

There is indeed something for everyone down in the Big Easy.

Happy Mardi Gras Everyone!!!