“Throw me something, mister!” Most of us have screamed this phrase at the blur of costumes passing by during a parade at least once in our lives. We all know to fight for the best beads and banana moonpies. The combination of the colors green, purple and gold, the ping of doubloons hitting the asphalt and the masquerade balls can only mean one thing: it’s Mardi Gras season. But, have you ever stopped to think about how Mardi Gras came about?

Most people associate Mardi Gras with New Orleans. The first Mardi Gras celebration, however, was in Mobile, Ala. In 1703, the colony of French soldiers decided to celebrate after surviving a yellow fever epidemic. Mardi Gras became an annual event for the French colonists to remember their homeland roots.

The capital of the Louisiana Purchase moved from Mobile to Biloxi and eventually to New Orleans in 1722. The traditional celebration traveled along the Delta and stretched along the coast.

Today, several cities in the South have their own Mardi Gras societies, parades and masquerade balls. Fairhope, Ala., Daphne, Ala., Biloxi, Miss., and many other small cities organize Mardi Gras celebrations every year.

Brian Smith, an Auburn alumnus, joined an organization recently. He experienced Mardi Gras this year for the first time as a member of a society.

“I grew up in Montgomery, Ala., so I wasn’t around Mardi Gras as a kid,” said Smith. “When I moved down to Fairhope, Ala., I was offered a spot in one of the organizations. I really enjoyed riding on the float this year during the parade. It was a huge adrenaline rush.”

Mardi Gras is generally associated with just a couple of weekends in February or March ending with Fat Tuesday. The members of the societies, however, prepare for the events throughout the year. Monthly meetings and preparations are made for the one night of the parade and ball.

“Joining was a excellent way to make connections and meet a lot of great people that I otherwise would not have met,” said Smith. “It is a social organization for adults.”

In New Orleans, Mardi Gras has become more than just different social organizations, parades and balls. The Big Easy depends on the revenue from the celebrations as a major factor in its economy. Mardi Gras generates over $1 billion in annual spending in the city of New Orleans.

Mardi Gras is always exactly 47 days before Easter. Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, which is the kick-off for Lent. Fat Tuesday is considered the last day of revelry before Lent begins.

In 1892, the king of Carnival, Rex, selected the colors green, gold and purple as the official colors of Mardi Gras. Green stands for faith, gold for power and purple for justice.

Mardi Gras is a celebration with deep French heritage. Although the way it is celebrated has changed over time, the same basic customs are still present. For more information about Mardi Gras in New Orleans, visit http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/. For information about Mardi Gras in Mobile, visit http://www.mobilemardigras.com/.


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