|
Fun Facts about
Mardi Gras
- Mardi Gras
is always scheduled 47 days before Easter (the 40 days of Lent,
plus seven Sundays.)
- In 1857,
the first krewe was organized. The Comus organization coined
the word "Krewe" and established several Mardi Gras
traditions: forming a secret Carnival society, choosing a
mythological namesake, presenting a theme parade with
floats.
- In 1872,
Rex, the King of Carnival, selected the official colors of Mardi
Gras: Purple, Gold, and Green Rex assigned a meaning to each
in his 1892 parade, entitled Symbolism of
Colors.
- Purple
represents Justice
- Green
stands for Faith
- Gold
signifies Power
- The
colorful worlds of Greek, Roman and Egyptian mythology are the
sources for many krewe names.
- A visit
from the Russian Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff was the partial
inspiration for the first appearance of Rex in 1872. The
King of Carnival immediately became the International symbol of
Mardi Gras.
- The final
year of the past century (1899) saw snow in New Orleans on Fat
Tuesday, which fell on St. Valentine's Day. Legend has it
that Rex paraded with a frozen mustache.
- Alexandria
Mardi Gras Association was formed in 1994 by a group of local
business people, headed by attorney Michael
Tudor.
- Parade
participants pay for 85% of the cost of the Alexandria Mardi Gras
Krewe Parade.
- The
tradition of celebrating Alexandria's Mardi Gras on Sunday was
determined because it is the only day the Mardi Gras floats are
available & will not conflict with other parades.
- The
Alexandria Mardi Gras Association's official posters and t-shirts always
have a Mardi Gras reveler located somewhere in the
picture.
|
