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Mardi Gras - Mobile, Alabama
The original home of Mardi Gras in America |
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Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!
February 24, 2009 |
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A little Mardi Gras History |
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Mardi Gras started in Mobile, Alabama at 27 Mile Bluff in 1703 when it was a colony of French soldiers. This was a continuation of the cultural traditions of the settlers in Mobile. After having survived a particularly nasty bout with yellow fever, they decided to celebrate, but since party favors were few and far between in the New World, the men opted to paint their faces red and just act crazy for a few hours. They must have had fun because it became an annual event. Many years later, New Years Eve 1830, Mobilian Michael Krafft did not want to end the dinner party celebrating the season with friends at a restaurant in downtown Mobile. Following the meal, these tipsy revelers "borrowed" some agricultural implements from a sidewalk display outside a downtown hardware store. |
Then, with cow bells, rakes, and hoes in hand, Krafft and his friends paraded through the streets of the town and thus was born the Cowbellion de Rakin Society, the first parading Mystic Society. In 1840, the Cowbellion's presented the first Mardi Gras parade with designed floats and theme. |
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In 1857, the Cowbellion's traveled to New Orleans to help a group there set up a Mardi Gras celebration; thus beginning New Orleans celebrations.
In 1866, after the Civil War, during the period when Mobile was still occupied by Union Forces, another group of gentlemen, led by Joseph Stillwell Cain, decided to revive the Krafft parade (which had been on hiatusduring the war). They "borrowed" a coal wagon from a local business, dressed in improvised Chickasaw Indian regalia costumes, and Joe dubbed himself as the legendary Chickasaw Indian chief, Slacabamorinico. |
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They paraded through the streets of town on Shrove (Fat) Tuesday, thus giving rebirth to Mardi Gras, which has been observed in Mobile ever since.
In 1968, Joe Cain Day was established as an all-inclusive street celebration that anyone was welcome to join. Cain's role in reviving Mardi Gras is observed each year on the Sunday before Mardi Gras Day, and is deemed "Joe Cain Day."
While originating in Mobile, the Mardi Gras celebration quickly spread to other locations throughout the Gulf Coast. Mobile's Mardi Gras reputation as an major tourist attraction is reaching international proportions. |
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More recent events in Mobile Mardi Gras tradition include, in 1993, the organization of the International Carnival Ball as a joint effort including both the Mobile Carnival Association and the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association. In that year also the only public Mardi-Gras style ball was begun to salute the Port City's carnival and international heritage. |
The Mobile Mardi Gras season is climaxed on Fat Tuesday with five societies parading on the downtown streets; concluded by the Order of Myths. This is a special honor, because the 'double-O M's' are the oldest continuous Mardi Gras society in America.
One unique aspect of the Mobile celebrations is the use of the Moon Pie as a through. A moon pie is a sweet baked good that combines a graham cracker like crust with marshmallow, and is then covered in a flavored frosting. |
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Enjoying Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama |
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| Throw Me Something, Mister !!! |
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Beaded necklaces are the symbol of Mardi Gras. Everyone wears them, and everyone tries to get even more from the partiers on parade floats who literally toss out tons of the trinkets to onlookers as they wind their way through the downtown streets. Beyond the beads, float riders also let fly candy, toys, stuffed animals, souvenir cups and, as an appropriate salute to southern cuisine, moon pies. |
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The crowds of Mobile, although large, ranging from 70,000 to over 150,000 on Mardi Gras Day, are still not the crush that has started to spoil the New Orleans's celebration. There are many activities for families and children of all ages, and Mobile does possess a southern family atmosphere. Police line the entire parade route and are accommodating to the crowds. |
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There is a trick for gathering more treats. Many of the parades pass the same location twice, or close to the same location two or three times. If you look at the parade routes beforehand, looking particularly for where a parade might pass within a block of its return route. For example, some of the parades will go east on Church Street but then reverse course to the west just a block over on Government Street. So, you can catch as much as you can on Church Street and then run (don't walk) over to Government Street in plenty of time to be bombarded again.
Then most of the parades will return heading east on Govenment St to end up at the Mobile Civic Center.
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Mardi Gras 2009, Fat Tuesday is February 24 |
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Future Dates of Fat Tuesday: |
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2010 - February 16 |
2011 - March 8 |
2012 - February 21 |
2013 - February
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2014 - March 4 |
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| Places to Stay: |
Gulfport, MS |
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| If you have information that you think is beneficial for us to add to this site, please contact us. Any organization that is not listed, please let us know and the corrections will be made. |
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