Mardi Gras Glossary
If you are unfamiliar with the origins of Mardi Gras and some of it's terminology, this is what you want to read.
Throughout the history of Europe there is evidence of the celebration of Mardi Gras. The New Orleans version descended most directly from France. On Mardi Gras, 1699, the French explorer Iberville camped near the mouth of the Mississippi and named the site "Point Mardi Gras." Some adaptation of the Parisian festival was probably introduced to NorthAmerica shortly after New Orleans was settled in 1718. Under French rule, masked balls and private parties flourished but were later prohibited by the Spanish governors. The ban continued when Creole populace prevailed upon the American governors, and by 1823 balls were again permitted and street masking was legalized in 1827.
Greater New Orleans Tourist &
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Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is always the day before Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent. It's a time for parties, parades, balls and celebrations of all kinds before Lenten religious observations begin. Officially, the Carnival Season begins on the Feast of the Epiphany- January 6, the Twelfth Night after Christmas. Epiphany celebrates the day the Three Kings visited the Christ Child and recognized Him as the Messiah. A popular Mardi Gras pastry also arrives on the Twelfth Night. Called "King Cakes," these coffeecake type pastries are decorated in Mardi Gras colors and only appear from this day until Mardi Gras Day (although some bakeries now make them available for shipping year round). A tiny plastic doll is baked into the cake, and by tradition, the person who receives the piece of cake with the doll inside must host the next party or bring the next King Cake to the home or office.
BAL (Bal Masque, Tableau Bal) - A masked ball in which scenes representing a specific theme are acted out for the entertainment of club members and their guests, Krewe royalty is traditionally presented during the bal.
BOEUF GRAS (French)- The fatted bull or ox, the ancient symbol of the last meat eaten before the Lent season of fasting.
CALL OUT - The tradition of at the Bal of royalty or members of the Krewe publicly presenting favors to friends in order to honor them; traditionally used in conjunction with a call-out-dance where a Krewe member will present a favor to a lady friend who reciprocates by honoring him with a dance.
CAPTAIN - The absolute leader of a carnival organization.
CARNIVAL - From the latin "Carnivale", loosely translated as "farewell to the flesh"; the season of merriment which begins on Twelfth Night (the feast of Epiphany), January 6, and ends at midnight on Fat Tuesday; the carnival season leads up to the penitential season of Lent in which fasting replaces feasting.
COURT - The king, queen, dukes, duchesses, prince and princesses of a carnival organization.
DEN - a large warehouse where floats are built and stored.
DOUBLOONS - aluminum coin like objects bearing the Krewe's insignia on one side and a theme logo on the other side; first introduced in the 1960 Rex parade in New Orleans; doubloons are also minted and sold as souvenirs in silver, bronze and choisone versions.
FAVOR - a souvenir, given by Krewe members to friends attending the Bal, normally bearing the Krewe's insignia, name and year of issue.
FLAMBEAUX (plural) - Naphtha-fueled torches, traditionally carried by white robed black men; in the 1900's the flambeaux provided the only source of nighttime parade illumination.
INVITATION - A printed request for attendance at a Mardi Gras Bal; in the 19th century, many invitations were die cut and printed in Paris, France; invitations are non-transferable and it is improper to refer to them as tickets.
KING CAKE - an oval shaped, sugared pastry that contains a plastic doll hidden inside; the person who finds the doll is crowned king and buys the next cake or throws the next party.
KREWE - The generic term for a carnival organization; first used by the Mystic Krewe of Comus which coined the word in 1857 to give its club's name an old english flavor.
MARDI GRAS - Also called "Fat Tuesday", this is the last day of the Carnival season and the day before "Ash Wednesday" the first day of the season of "Lent".
THROWS - inexpensive trinkets tossed from floats by costumed and masked Krewe members; among the more popular items are doubloons, plastic cups and plastic medallion necklaces.
TWELFTH NIGHT - The official beginning of the Mardi Gras Carnival season. Also known as the "Epiphany" (the day the wise men visited the baby Jesus). It is called twelfth night because it is always celebrated twelve days after Christmas, on January 6.