Mardi Gras Defined

Carnival-From the Latin word 'farewell to flesh.' With lavish masked balls and other revels, Carnival became so popular in Italy and France the tradition followed the Creoles to New Orleans

Krewes-Name given to Mardi Gras societies. Most were at first made up of prominent society types or buisnessmen. The first Krewe was known as the Mystic Krewe of Comus (named after a John Milton poem). On Mardi Gras eve they presented a torch-lit parade and from there a new tradition was born.

Rex-The first king of Mardi Gras. Rex paraded in the morning and later paid homage to Comus, their meeting became known as the high point of Mardi Gras.

The Twelfth Night Revelers-Krewe founded during the Civil War. Their members were the first to throw trinkets to onlookers and crown a queen to reign over their ball.

Krewe of the Zulu-In 1909 black mocked Rex by prancing after his float wearing a lard can for a crown. By 1916 his followers founded their own krewe and developped a paradoy of Rex that mocked racial stereotypes. The most famous King Zulu was Louis Armstrong who reigned in 1949.

superkrewes-19th century non-exclusive krewes that replaced the old krewes. Like Orpheus, founded by Harry Connick Jr. because he likes Mardi Gras so much.

Throws- trinkets that fly from the floats of the superkrewes.

Doublooons-Oversize coins that are usually made of aluminum that show the krewes coat of arms on one side and the year of the parade on the other.

King Cake-traditional round, braided coffee-cake like confection dusted with Mardi Gras-purple, green and gold-colored sugar into which a plastic baby is baked

Lundi Gras- The Mondy before Fat Tuesday. Rex's King of Carnival arrives from the Mississippi river on this night.

Walking Clubs- There are nearly 2-dozen clubs. Members wear costumes and masks. Club members usually try to stop at as many bars as possible along the parade route. The oldest is the Jefferson City buzzards.

Tableau- The original type of Mardi Gras ball. Tableaus include royalty including a king, queen, maids, ladies and waiting and pages. The Rex ball is an example of a serious tableau. The ball is held on Mardi Gras night at the New Orleans municipal auditorium
Super Dance-The more contemporary type of ball, anyone can attend a super dance. There is no royalty, but there is a celebrity monarch who presides over the festivities.