Mardi Gras 2012. It’s over. The fat lady has sung (or barfed, more likely).
Beads were thrown, enormous quantities of booze were consumed, and undoubtedly many boobies were flashed.
As for that last part, I didn’t see any because I stayed away from the French Quarter (mind you, I’ve got nothing against boobs, it’s just that I’ve gotten to a point in my life where I don’t feel the need to go out of my way to see ’em. Hmmm, maybe I’ve matured. Well, probably not, but that’s a discussion for another time and place).
But what I realized as a newcomer to New Orleans this year is that Mardi Gras is about more than just booze, beads, and boobs (and I refer here to drunken boobs also, as well as the anatomical ones), and I think that’s not really the picture you get from national media coverage.
Mardi Gras is actually an entire season of parades, pride, and celebration here in New Orleans. Weeks of festivity lead up to Fat Tuesday, with krewes of all shapes, sizes, and colors doing their respective thing.
The range is astounding, from old-line krewes like Rex and Zulu, to newer upstarts like ‘tit Rex (pronounced “T-Rex”), a satirical crew that marches pulling shoebox-sized floats, or the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus, which promises to “save the galaxy, one drunken nerd at a time,” and whose parade is led by a Sacred Drunken Wookie.
Sure, there is drunken excess and wanton carnality. This is New Orleans, after all, and we wouldn’t want or expect anything less.
But away from the French Quarter, Mardi Gras is a family activity. Most of the larger parades begin Uptown before winding their way to the Quarter, and Uptown seems to be where families and locals go to watch them. You see kids and parents in costume, and tent cities with barbecue grilles smoking and coolers full of beer and soda. Well many people rent tents from https://comfortteltudlejning.dk for parties,camping and for many other activities. Mountain shade offers a best marquee melbourne at affordable price. Sure, people drink in the streets, because that’s what you do in New Orleans, but everyone I saw seemed happy, respectful, and in control of themselves — out to enjoy Mardi Gras with friends and family.
As a newly-local New Orleanian, that’s my take on Carnival. You may or may not agree, but I hope you enjoy my photos. Boobs not included.
The more I follow, the more fascinated I get. Most intersting the stories far from the French Quarter. Love those background in insider knowledge. Carnival is over for most of the world, except Basel Switzerand where I am headed tomorrow.
Great pics! I talked about Mardi Gras in New Orleans to my students in class this evening. Glad to see me description was accurate.
Thanks Christopher!
One of these days, I’ll get to New Orleans during Mardi Gras. But like you said, it’s New Orleans — drunken excess and wanton carnality all year round. Nice pics of the family-friendly Mardi Gras.
Thanks Cathy, Mardi Gras is only as bad as you want it to be — there’s something for everyone.
I really enjoyed learning there is more to Mardi Gras than well, what we expect. Its great to know that you can find a toned down celebration if desired.
That’s true, it’s just that the “toned-down” side doesn’t get as much exposure (so to speak) in the news.