CARNIVAL OF

Mardi Gras in New Orleans

New Orleans.

Why Mardi Gras?Mardi Gras is the name of the carnival held in New Orleans, Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama (USA). Its name derives from the French, which translates directly into Spanish as "fat Tuesday" (similar to Spanish Maundy Thursday) but is traditionally called as "Mardi Gras".

When is it held?Held the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is the parade itself takes place on the last day, but often, it is associated with the season. The so-called "fat Tuesday" refers to it being the last day to enjoy the goodies as much flesh before the withdrawal period that marks the beginning of Holy Week and Lent.

MARDI GRAS IN NUEVA ORLEANS

The Mardi Gras celebration is among the largest and most famous in the world. The Carnival season in New Orleans, which traces its origins to the Catholic tradition, begins on January 6, Twelfth Night. Since that day, you start seeing floats, masquerades and the famous "king cake" (the name translates to Spanish as real cakes). Two weeks before Mardi Gras, you can see a daily parade. Parades and celebrations more colorful and processing take place the last five days of the season.

Mardi Gras in Nueva Orleans

Although many tourists visit Bourbon Street and other sections of the French Quarter during Mardi Gras, the largest parades do not go out there because the streets are too narrow for carriages.

THE TRADITION STARTED WHEN LOUISIANA WAS COLONIZED BY THE FRENCH. THE FIRST CELEBRATION IS DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE THAT WAS IN 1699. STILL, IT IS NOT KNOWN EXACTLY WHEN SUCH FESTIVITIES REALLY BEGAN. HOWEVER, FOR THE YEAR 1743 AND RESEMBLED A WELL-ESTABLISHED TRADITION. OFFICERS ARRIVED TO PROHIBIT THE CELEBRATION ON OCCASION, BUT EACH TIME IT WAS FORBIDDEN, SHE RETURNED SINCE RESTRICTIONS WERE ABOLISHED OR POLICE NO LONGER GAVE THEM MUCH THOUGHT

HISTORY (part 1)

IN 1979 THE NEW ORLEANS POLICE WENT ON STRIKE . INITIALLY ALL PARADES WERE CANCELED OR MOVED TO NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES AS JEFFERSON PARISH. THAT YEAR WERE FEW TOURISTS BUT THE CELEBRATION CONTINUED . THE NATIONAL GUARD OF THE UNITED STATES DISPATCHED TROOPS TO MAINTAIN ORDER . AS THE SOLDIERS ONLY HAD ORDERS TO PREVENT CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS OR PROPERTY , LAWS PROHIBITING THE USE OF ILLICIT DRUGS WERE UNREGULATED . FOR THIS REASON MANY BOHEMIANS SAY THE MARDI GRAS 1979 CELEBRATION WAS THE BEST TO DATE.

HISTORY (part 2)

In 1991, a law requiring all organizations, including the rocks of Mardi Gras, they do not discriminate based on race, religion , gender or sexual orientation and those who do not obey the law would not receive permits for parades or other approved public license type . In addition, the law forced the rocks reveal the names of its members and suspend their secret codes.

HISTORY (part 3)

THE ROCKS OF COMUS , MOMUS AND PROTEUS PARADES CANCELED THEIR PROTEST PROTEUS ALTHOUGH MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DECIDED FINALLY FINISHED PARADING . TWO FEDERAL COURTS LATER DECLARED THAT THE LAW WAS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE RIGHT OF FREE ASSOCIATION ( U.S. PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION) AND WAS AN INVASION OF THE PRIVACY OF THE GROUPS AFFECTED BY THE ORDINANCE. THE SUPREME COURT REFUSED TO HEAR THE APPEAL OF THE CITY BEFORE THE DECISION.

HISTORY (part 4)

CURRENTLY MANY CLUBS BASE THEIR OPERATIONS IN A BUSINESS MODEL AND OPENED ITS MEMBERSHIP TO ANYONE WHO CAN PAY THE FEES TO MAINTAIN A POSITION IN A CHARIOT. IN CONTRAST TO THIS POSITION ARE MANY CLUBS THAT FOLLOW THE OLD STRUCTURE OF CLOSED MEMBERSHIP AND DANCES WHICH MAKES THEM EXCLUSIVE TO CERTAIN SOCIAL CIRCLES.AS A RESULT OF HURRICANE KATRINA , MANY HAVE WONDERED HOW MARDI GRAS IS CELEBRATED IN NEW ORLEANS. THE COUNCIL , WHICH FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY AFTER THE STORM , CALLED THE CELEBRATION WAS MUCH SMALLER SO THAT CITY SERVICES COULD COPE.

HISTORY (part 5)

MANY OF THE CLUBS SAID THEY WOULD BE READY FOR THEIR SHOWS SO NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THESE GROUPS AND THE CITY FILED . ALMOST ALL THE SHOWS ARE LIMITED TO SAINT CHARLES AVENUE IN UPTOWN DISTRICT . ALTHOUGH THE END OF 2005 THERE WERE DOUBTS AS TO THE EXISTENCE OF A CURFEW DURING MARDI GRAS , THE MEASURE , WHICH HAD BEEN APPLIED AS A RESULT OF HURRICANE KATRINA, WAS ABOLISHED IN EARLY 2006.

HISTORY (part 6)

The closure of Mardi GrasMardi Gras formally ends when the kings of Rex and his "subjects," the king and queen of carnival and the king and queen of the rock Mistick Krewe of Comus (the Mardi Gras rock older) meet. When this meeting is a dance to in the municipal auditorium in the city.

At midnight a squad of policemen mounted on horses, begins to clear Bourbon Street. This event means that Mardi Gras is complete and has begun Lent. It is considered inappropriate and disrespectful catch Mardi Gras beads during Lent.

Costumes and masks

Costumes and masks are used almost exclusively by members of the rocks in the days before Mardi Gras but it is common to see people wearing them on the "Mardi Gras". That day all banks are closed.

NecklacesThrowing rocks cheap necklaces and toys to attending , parades practice that dates back to the nineteenth century. Until

the 1960s most were glass

necklaces , made in Czechoslovakia

. These were replaced with cheaper

and less fragile necklaces made in

Hong Kong and Taiwan and more

recently started to import from

China. The fact that the cost of

necklaces and toys are launched

down allows greater cantidades. Los necklaces are made of round plastic pepas one or more colors so they are easy to carry lighter and more cheerful.