Celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans | National Geographic

Summary

New Orleans' Mardi Gras is a vibrant celebration that begins weeks ahead of the Christian season of Lent. The city buzzes with activity, from bakers producing 50 king cakes a day to costume makers crafting ornate attire for lavish balls and parades. Traditions are preserved through old-school king cakes, century-old carnival exhibits, and the crew system that organizes festivities. The event is a significant part of the local economy, requiring diverse skills to construct elaborate floats. Music is an integral element, with New Orleans' musicians deeply influenced by the carnival's rhythm and energy.

Takeaways

• 🎉 New Orleans Mardi Gras is a significant celebration that requires extensive preparations weeks or even months in advance, marking the start of the Christian season of Lent.
• 🍰 Bakeries like New Orleans Cake Cafe become incredibly busy during Carnival season, producing up to 50 king cakes a day, including non-traditional versions like goat cheese and apple stuffed cakes.
• 🎲 The traditional king cake includes a tiny baby or trinket inside, which brings obligations for the person who finds it, such as buying next year's cake, though some places put the baby on the outside.
• 🧣 Sally Hedrick and her son create over 150 ornate costumes for Mardi Gras, costing up to $3,000, for social organizations' balls and parades, highlighting the event's lavish cultural expression.
• 👗 Men dressing in elaborate costumes for Mardi Gras is particularly noted as a departure from the norm, adding a unique aspect to the festivities.
• 🎭 The Louisiana State Museum showcases over a century and a half of Mardi Gras traditions, including items as old as ball invitations from the 1850s, revealing the deep historical roots of the celebration.
• 🎊 The crew system is central to Mardi Gras celebrations, with numerous clubs (krewe spelled with a 'K') organizing lavish balls and parades, a tradition that adds structure and community to the festivities.
• 💎 The Knights of Sparta, a Mardi Gras krewe founded in 1951, exemplifies the secrecy and tradition of krewe leadership, with the captain's identity being hidden to preserve the mystique of the carnival.
• 🏁 Float dens are bustling with activity as Mardi Gras approaches, housing the construction of elaborate floats that are essential to the parades and can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• 🎶 Music is an indispensable element of Mardi Gras, with Grammy-winning artist Ervin Mayfield emphasizing that Mardi Gras is deeply interwoven with New Orleans' musical culture and community.
• 🏖 To truly understand Mardi Gras, natives suggest that visitors should experience it multiple times and stay longer than a day, indicating the complexity and depth of the celebration.

Q & A

What is the significance of Mardi Gras in New Orleans?

Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a major celebration that takes place before the Christian season of Lent begins. It involves extensive preparations and is marked by various festivities including parades, lavish balls, and the tradition of the king cake.

When does the Mardi Gras season start and end?

The Mardi Gras season starts on January 6th and ends on Fat Tuesday.

What is the role of bakeries during the Mardi Gras season?

Bakeries, like the New Orleans Cake Cafe and Bakery, become very busy during the Mardi Gras season, producing as many as 50 king cakes a day to meet the demand for this traditional pastry.

What is unique about the traditional New Orleans king cake?

The traditional New Orleans king cake has a tiny baby or other trinket baked inside. Whoever finds the trinket has the obligation to buy the next year's king cake.

How do costumes play a role in Mardi Gras celebrations?

Costumes are an essential part of Mardi Gras, with social organizations commissioning ornate costumes for the lavish balls and parades. These costumes can be very expensive, costing thousands of dollars.

What does the Louisiana State Museum contribute to preserving Mardi Gras traditions?

The Louisiana State Museum showcases over a century and a half of New Orleans Mardi Gras traditions through its exhibits and occasionally offers tours of its warehouse, which houses thousands of costumes and other items related to the festival.

What is the 'crew system' in the context of Mardi Gras?

The 'crew system' refers to the clubs known as Mardi Gras crews that organize and participate in the celebrations, including parades and balls. These crews have been a central part of Mardi Gras celebrations for the last 150 years.

Why do members of Mardi Gras crews wear masks?

Members of Mardi Gras crews wear masks as part of the tradition to hide their identity. This allows them to represent their crew without personal association during the festivities.

What are the economic impacts of Mardi Gras in New Orleans?

Mardi Gras has a significant economic impact on New Orleans. It creates jobs for many people, including carpenters, artists, welders, and mechanics, who are involved in constructing and decorating the elaborate floats.

How important is music to the Mardi Gras celebrations?

Music is an integral part of Mardi Gras, with celebrations taking place not just in the parades but also in homes, on the streets, and at parties and receptions. It is said that it's hard to have Mardi Gras without music, and it plays a significant role in shaping the musicians of New Orleans.

What advice do New Orleans natives give to those wanting to understand Mardi Gras?

New Orleans natives suggest that to truly understand Mardi Gras, one should visit and stay in the city for an extended period, rather than just for a single day, to experience the full range of traditions and festivities.

Outlines

00:00

🎉 New Orleans Mardi Gras Celebrations

The first paragraph introduces the Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, highlighting the extensive preparations that begin weeks and even months in advance. It discusses the increased workload for bakers during the carnival season, with some establishments producing up to 50 king cakes daily. The paragraph also delves into the tradition of the king cake, which contains a small baby figurine or trinket, symbolizing obligations for the finder to provide the next year's cake. The existence of old-school king cakes and their loyal followers is noted, as well as the variety of costumes made by Sally Hedrick and her son for social organizations and lavish balls. The paragraph concludes with a mention of the Louisiana State Museum, which showcases over a century and a half of Mardi Gras traditions, and the crew system that revolves around clubs and lavish balls, emphasizing the commitment and cost involved for members.

05:01

🎶 The Role of Music in Mardi Gras

The second paragraph focuses on the integral role of music in Mardi Gras celebrations. It features Grammy-winning artist Ervin Mayfield, who explains that Mardi Gras is not confined to a single day and is a pervasive part of New Orleans' culture, present in homes, streets, parties, and receptions. The paragraph emphasizes that while not all musicians start playing because of Mardi Gras, they inevitably become involved in it in some way. It concludes with the notion that understanding Mardi Gras requires multiple visits and extended stays, suggesting that the experience is richer when fully immersed over time.

Keywords

💡Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is a festive celebration that occurs before the Christian season of Lent. It is particularly famous in New Orleans, where it involves elaborate preparations, including parades, costumes, and special foods like king cakes. The event is a significant cultural phenomenon that attracts tourists and involves the entire community.

💡King Cakes

King Cakes are traditional pastries associated with Mardi Gras, particularly in New Orleans. These cakes are often decorated in the festival's colors of purple, green, and gold, and may contain a small baby figurine or other trinket inside. The person who finds the trinket is typically responsible for providing the king cake for the next gathering or celebration.

💡Carnival Season

Carnival Season refers to the period leading up to Lent in the Christian calendar, characterized by festive celebrations, parades, and indulgent foods. In New Orleans, this season is marked by Mardi Gras, which involves a series of events and traditions that engage the entire community.

💡Costumes

Costumes are elaborate outfits worn for special occasions, such as Mardi Gras balls and parades. In the context of the video, Sally Hedrick and her son are costume designers who create ornate costumes for social organizations participating in Mardi Gras events. These costumes can be quite expensive, with some costing over three thousand dollars.

💡Social Organizations

Social organizations in the context of Mardi Gras are groups that host events such as balls and parades during the Carnival Season. These organizations often have a long history and a loyal following, and they play a crucial role in preserving and showcasing the traditions of Mardi Gras.

💡Louisiana State Museum

The Louisiana State Museum is a cultural institution that preserves and exhibits the history and traditions of Louisiana, including Mardi Gras. The museum's collection contains items that span over a century and a half of Mardi Gras traditions, offering visitors insights into the evolution of the festival.

💡Crew System

The Crew System is a fundamental aspect of modern Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans. It involves clubs or groups known as 'Mardi Gras crews' that organize and participate in various events throughout the Carnival Season, including balls and parades. Being part of a crew requires a significant commitment in terms of time, money, and participation in traditions.

💡Masking

Masking is the tradition of wearing masks or hiding one's identity during Mardi Gras. This practice is rooted in the festival's history and allows individuals to take on a different role during the celebration, emphasizing the collective experience over individual identity.

💡Floats

Floats are the elaborately decorated structures that are part of Mardi Gras parades. They can be quite costly to construct and may involve the work of various professionals such as carpenters, artists, welders, and mechanics. Floats are not only a central element of the parades but also contribute to the local economy by providing employment opportunities.

💡Music

Music is an integral part of Mardi Gras, with celebrations often accompanied by live performances and parades featuring various musical acts. It is not only a form of entertainment but also a cultural expression that shapes the identity of New Orleans and its people, including musicians who grow up and perform during the festival.

💡Tradition

Tradition refers to the long-established customs or beliefs that are passed down through generations. In the context of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, tradition is evident in the various practices such as king cakes, masking, and participating in social organizations, which are deeply ingrained in the city's culture and identity.

Highlights

New Orleans Mardi Gras is a significant celebration before the Christian season of Lent begins.

Preparations for Mardi Gras in New Orleans start weeks and even months in advance.

Bakers in New Orleans experience increased predawn workloads during the Carnival season.

New Orleans Cake Cafe and Bakery produces up to 50 king cakes a day during Mardi Gras.

Non-traditional king cakes, like goat cheese and apple stuffed cakes, are also popular in New Orleans.

Old school king cakes in New Orleans have been a tradition for 50 to 100 years and have a loyal following.

The person who finds a baby or trinket in their king cake is obligated to buy the next year's king cake.

Sally Hedrick and her son make ornate costumes for social organizations throwing lavish balls and parades during Mardi Gras.

Some costumes for Mardi Gras can cost more than three thousand dollars.

The Louisiana State Museum showcases over a century and a half of New Orleans Mardi Gras traditions.

The oldest item in the Mardi Gras collection is a ball invitation from the 1850s.

Mardi Gras celebrations have evolved around the 'crew system' involving clubs known as Mardi Gras crews.

The Knights of Sparta crew, founded in 1951, has been parading for the last 30 years and hosts a masquerade ball and parade.

The identity of the cruise captain is kept secret to honor the tradition of masking and hiding one's identity during Mardi Gras.

Being part of a Mardi Gras crew requires a significant commitment in terms of time and cost for members.

Float dens, or warehouses, house the construction of elaborate floats that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and take a month or more to build.

The construction and decoration of Mardi Gras floats contribute significantly to the local economy, employing various skilled workers.

Music is an essential part of Mardi Gras, with Grammy-winning artist Ervin Mayfield emphasizing its importance and influence on New Orleans musicians.

Mardi Gras is not a one-day event but rather a season-long celebration deeply ingrained in the culture and daily life of New Orleans.

To truly understand Mardi Gras, one must experience it over time and not just for a single day.

Transcripts

[Music]

new orleans mardi gras is more than just

a celebration before the christian

season of lent begins

in this city preparations for the big

day begin

weeks and even months in advance

early mornings are nothing new for

bakers but the predawn workload grows

during carnival season

from january 6 through fat tuesday new

orleans cake cafe and

bakery is a beehive of activity where

they make as many as

50 king cakes a day here they make

non-traditional

goat cheese and apple stuffed cakes

there's very

old school king cakes in new orleans

they've been at it for 50 60 100 years

some of them

and they have a loyal following the old

school king cake has a tiny baby or

other trinket baked inside

and whoever gets the trinket has

obligations such as buy

next year's king cake here the baby goes

on the outside

the king cake is a traditional new

orleans mardi gras pastry

you'll find pastries like this all over

the country and all over the world that

they're only served for a certain season

during the year

[Music]

in another part of town sally hedrick

and her son are making 150 or more

ornate costumes these are for the social

organizations throwing the lavish balls

and parades

some may go for more than three thousand

dollars

it's as rewarding to see the women in

these costumes gleam

but it's more rewarding to see the men

because a man doesn't get to dress up

in beautiful clothes he's usually in a

tuxedo

hedrick works on costumes year-round

refurbishing ones that took a bit of a

beating during last year's mardi gras

celebrations

and creating new works

a look back at years past the louisiana

state museum lets visitors see more than

a century and a half of new orleans

mardi gras traditions

the oldest item in the carnival

collection is something that we were

very fortunate to acquire

just a couple of years ago it's a ball

invitation that dates to the 1850s

the carnival exhibit at the museum on

jackson square only shows the tip of the

iceberg

however the museum's warehouse

periodically offers tours

where visitors can see the thousands of

costumes and other items

the way that we celebrate mardi gras now

and for the last 150 years revolves

around what we call the crew system

there are all these clubs that exist

that are called mardi gras crews

for the dozens of crews spelled with a k

lavish balls highlight mardi gras the

knights of sparta crew was founded in

1951

for the last 30 years they paraded in

the city

and currently host a masquerade ball and

parade that falls on the next to the

last weekend of carnival season

the cruise captain does not publicly

reveal his identity

he says it isn't about secrecy i wear

the mask however because it is the

tradition of carnival

to mask to hide one's identity

because when i represent my

carnival crew the knights of sparta i am

simply the captain

one should not know my name or who i

am belonging to or leading a crew

takes a big commitment it is very costly

to the members of the organization

paying dues buying the trinkets the

throws as we call them to throw off the

floats

ball gowns for the ladies tickets to

different functions and we do it because

of a sense of

tradition

[Music]

as fat tuesday approaches warehouses

throughout the city come to life

float dens as they are called house the

floats that can cost hundreds of

thousands of dollars to construct

it can take a month or more to build and

decorate the elaborate floats

some of which date back to the early

1900s

it's part of the economy here too it

puts a lot of people to work i mean you

know to make a float like this you need

carpenters

you you need artists you need welders

you need tire people you need mechanics

that's a lot involved

[Music]

and a final vital ingredient for mardi

gras is the music

grammy-winning artist ervin mayfield

from television you see these parades go

by people throwing beads

but what you really don't see is that

mardi gras lives out in people's houses

it lives out on the streets it lives out

in the halls and the parties and

receptions

and it's not a thing over one day

so i would say in terms of music you

know it's very hard to have mardi gras

without the music

and he says any musician growing up in

new orleans is shaped by mardi gras

you're a leg on a table that helps the

table stand up the music the food

the people for a young musician you

wouldn't start playing music because of

mardi gras necessarily but if you are a

musician you will be involved in mardi

gras

a certain way

[Music]

most new orleans natives say anyone

hoping to understand mardi gras

needs to come back often and stay a

while not just for one day

[Music]