Laissez bon temps rouler!!! That means “let the good times roll” and is always shouted at Mardi Gras- Mardi Gras itself is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and it’s the last hurrah before the season on Lent and deprivation. While I don’t give up anything for Lent, lots of my friends do. I’m Methodist and we just don’t do that part of Lent.
Mardi Gras as a wild party time actually started in Mobile, Alabama and any native of the area will make sure you know that if you even so much as breath that you think it’s a New Orleans tradition that they stole- shoot, that can even get you shot- literally!!
Pensacola, where I live, also has a long history of celebrating Mardi Gras. I was actually a contestant in the Miss Mardi Gras pageant when I was a senior in High School. It was at our beautiful Saenger Theatre and was a great time. I now belong to two Krewes. Krewes are the clubs that sponsor balls and ride in parades and throw beads, moonpies and other goodies. I used to be in three but left one when there was an influx of people that seemed to get mean and belligerent when they drank. It seemed there was a fight every time we got on the float. I decided it wasn’t fun to be around mean drunks and left that one.
One of the ones I belong to is the oldest in Pensacola- it’s called Les Harlequins. We wear black and white costumes with the Harlequin diamonds and hold a black and white ball every year.
The other one I’m in is called The Maids of Luna and we also have a ball but the theme changes from year to year. The really fun (read that as not fun) thing about it, is they announce the theme at a meeting 10 days before the ball and give you a paper bag with a part of your costume and you have to be creative and come up with the rest. My favorite was the year they gave us each a green sheath dress in different colors of green – we were doing a sprng theme and the green was the stem of your plant. I made a sandwich board (like the old ads) and glued a lot of scrapbooking paper flowers on it and lettered “I’ve been de-flowered” It was a huge hit!!
Anyway, have a great Fat Tuesday! Eat King cake, drink til you fall on the floor and be sure to yell Laissez bon temps rouler a few times! (I can’t even do it well when all I’ve had is unsweet tea to drink!)
Here’s a song from Mobile:
Angela Schroeder
Patricia Kiyono
Elaine Cantrell
Jeff Salter
Joselyn
Tonette Joyce
Four Foxes, One Hound 
Wish I could have seen that costume. I have some other friends in that Krewe and they remembere that costume out of all the rest. Mardi Gras is great fun especially when it isn’t taken to the extreme and you spend the next day paying for your celebrating.
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Amen! I don’t overdo it! Lesson learned way back in college!
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I knew that Mobile was ‘big’ into Mardi Gras … but I truly did not know it originated there. Any chance you’re pulling our collective legs?
[No, I don’t want to get shot.]
I had a literature professor who spoke of the ‘roots’ of Mardi Gras from Europe and the British Isles and described it as “containment of chaos”. Not sure if he knew what he was talking about. But it does had some similarities to some of the annual customs of other countries.
The Krewe of Luna sounds fun. I had an aunt named Luna.
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I would never pull your leg, Jeff- *snort* At least not this time- It is true that it was the first in the US – But there is Carnivale in Rio and some celebration in Germany- I can’t remember how to spell it – Frauchen something, so your lit prof did not steer you wrong.
Luna is the goddess of the moon- was your aunt lunerally affected? I have a secretary that is! LOL! I DO Like the name!
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What’s the name of the celebration which is featured in the Hunchback of Notre Dame? It’s some sort of King of the Fool’s Day or something. Isn’t it? Might not be directly connected to Mardi Gras, but it’s one of those annual things where everybody lets it all hang out … then next day — back to normal.
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LOL I say nothing! I’m intrigued by the idea of riding in a parade, but my alcohol tolerance isn’t as high as it used to be; I’d be passed out on the floor of the float before the parade started 😉 Happy Mardi Gras!
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You could drink kool-aid, Danica- Just not Jim Jones’ brand! LOL! You would have a ball once you experienced “The power of the Bead” – It’s a heady feeling knowing you have the very items people are desperate to have! LOL!
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Happy Mardi Gras!!!
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Thanks Lynn!
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Are their pictures of that costume? Would love to see it! Enjoy Fat Tuesday…but not too much. 🙂
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Yes, there are pictures. I’m not sure which computer they are on- I’ll check and maybe post them! LOL!
I won’t be doing much- My Krewes are all done- there is a pricus procession tonight but I’m staying home- have court all day tomorrow and need to be perky!
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Perky?
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priscus- not pricus
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Jeff- yeah, that’s same kind of thing in Hunchback- celebratory day followed by dullness! LOL!
and yeah, perky as in alert, aware, and ready to kick butt!
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Wow, looks like fun! I’m not sure what a moon pie is, but I’ll be on the lookout for one!
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Moon pies are delectable treats which taste like spongy cardboard when they’re stale.
But when they’re still fresh they melt in your mouth.
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I don’t think I’ve ever had a stale one, Jeff. Of course, I like some foods when they’re stale (like Cheetos and Vanilla waffers), so I might not have even noticed, lol
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Moon pies are a rite of passage. They’re…like a little sandwich pastry. Jeff is correct that it’s like spongy cardboard, but they’re gooood. I haven’t had one in years; suppose I’ll have to actually buy one now that the parades are over, lol
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send me your address on DM on twitter and I’ll mail ya some! You haven’t lived til you’ve had a moon pie- AND Jeff- they are awesome microwaved when they are stale! LOL!
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Danica, the ONLY thing I’d use a stale cheeto for is to replace foam ‘peanuts’ if I need to cushion something for shipment.
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ooh-yuck- stale cheetos! ugh!
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