JOIN THE PARADE

Strut into Mardi Gras like a New Orleans native.

Learn the history behind Mardi Gras' most treasured traditions through the Krewe of Rex procession

1. The boeuf gras (fatted ox) float symbolizes the last meal eaten before Lent. At one time, a live ox rather than a float was in the parade.

2. Traditionally, the float carrying the boeuf gras and masked riders dressed as cooks is one of the lead floats of the Rex parade.

3. Purple, green and gold had been unofficial Mardi Gras colors since 1872, although their symbolism was never clear. The 1892 Rex Parade's theme, "The Symbolism of Colors," suggested that they stood for justice, faith and power, respectively.

4. Each individual on a float spends anywhere from $500 to $2,000 on beads and other throws.

5. St. Augustine High School had the first all-black marching band in a Mardi Gras parade, in 1967.

6. Rex began the tradition of throwing of trinkets to the crowd in the 1870s. Throws include beads and doubloons, coins that have the parade's theme on one side and the symbol of Rex on the other.

7. The traditional way to get beads, doubloons or any other throw is to yell, "Hey mister, throw me something."

8. Most of the floats are built on the chassis of 19th-century cotton- and garbage-wagons with wooden-spoked wheels.

9. Masks were banned under American rule, following the Louisiana Purchase, but the law was repealed in 1830. Today, float riders are required to wear masks to keep up the mystique of Mardi Gras. Spectators are not allowed to wear masks, except on Fat Tuesday from sunup to sundown.

10. In 2008, 750,000 to 850,000 visitors came to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.

 

REIGN & SHINE

THE REX ORGANIZATION, NEW ORLEANS' BIGGEST KREWE, CHOOSES A KING AND QUEEN OF MARDI GRAS EVERY YEAR.

"REX, KING OF CARNIVAL" IS CARRIED ON HIS OWN FLOAT THROUGH THE PARADE, AND HE AND HIS QUEEN PRESIDE OVER THE REX BALL. HERE, THE REIGNING MONARCHS SHED SOME LIGHT ON MARDI GRAS BEFORE THE TRANSITION OF POWER THIS MONTH.

John E. Koerner III

What's the best thing about being the king?

"To be able to ride the No. 1 float-and to see everybody. I saw a lot of friends that I hadn't seen in 40 or more years, and remembered them like it was yesterday."

Will kids enjoy Mardi Gras?

"They'll never forget their experience at their first Mardi Gras."

What's one thing everybody should know about Mardi Gras?

"It's not always fully understood outside of our community because the impression is often of the goings-on of Bourbon Street. But Mardi Gras is very much a family day, a huge linear picnic that goes on all day with good food, good fun and a bit of alcohol mixed in. It's the greatest free show on earth. We enjoy giving it."

Ellen Rogers Logan

What did you learn as the queen?

"I learned so much more about the rich culture that we have, and how it really identifies New Orleans. It's really neat to be able to say that I was a part of that and represented part of that culture."

Do you know all of the words to "If I Ever Cease to Love," Carnival's anthem?

"I definitely should, for the amount of times that I heard it. When they play it [at the ball], they don't have anyone on the mic singing it… but I could hum the whole thing, backwards and forwards."

What is the most bizarre Mardi Gras tradition?

"I've grown up with my dad, who's a member [of Rex], so none of them seem too bizarre to me. Some of my friends who have hung out with me during Mardi Gras say, 'This is so weird!' And I'm like, 'This is normal, they're just dressed up!'"

Style Wars

The Mardi Gras Indians compete on the battlefield of fashion.

In the late 1800s, black New Orleanians rebelled against whites-only Mardi Gras festivities by celebrating with Afro-Caribbean music and-taking a cue from the Wild West shows of the time-dressing up as Native Americans. Today, there are more than 30 tribes-and the one with the best-dressed Big Chief wins.

"It all depends on how much effort you put into that needle and thread," says Alfred Doucette, Big Chief of the Flaming Arrow Warriors, who has spent up to a year on one costume. (You can see his handmade suits at the Backstreet Cultural Museum and the House of Dance and Feathers.)

Each rank has a different costume. The lowest rank, Spy Boy holds a beautifully decorated (fake) shotgun and scouts for enemy tribes in front. He sends a signal to the Flag Boy, known for the large feathered staff he carries. Flag Boy then relays information to the Wildman, who holds a staff with bullhorns on it, and may wear a headdress with buffalo or cow horns. The higher the rank, the more elaborate the costumes. The Big Chief has the biggest suit of all. Piled high with ostrich feathers, beads and sculptures, they can weigh 100 to 200 pounds.

MARCHING AROUND TOWN:

Here's when and where to see the floats and bands in all their glory.

Feb. 7
Krewe du Vieux, 6:30pm (French Quarter)

Feb. 13
Krewe of Atlas, 7:30pm (Metairie)

Krewe of Excalibur, 7pm (Metairie)

Krewe of Cleopatra, 6:30 (Westbank)

Krewe of Eve, 7pm (Mandeville)

Krewe of Oshun, 3pm (Uptown)

Feb. 14
Krewe of Pont- chartrain, 2pm (Uptown)

Mystic Krewe of Shangri-La, 2pm (Uptown)

Knights of Sparta, 6pm (Uptown)

Krewe of Pega- sus, 6:45pm (Uptown)

Krewe of Caesar, 6pm (Metairie)

Mystic Knights of Adonis, 12pm (West Bank)

Krewe of Choctaw, 1:30am (West Bank)

Feb. 15

Krewe of Alla, 11:30am (West Bank)

Krewe of Car- rollton, 12pm (Uptown)

Krewe of Rhea, 1pm (Metairie)

Krewe of Cen- turions, 5:30pm (Metairie)

Krewe of King Arthur, 1:15pm (Uptown)

Feb. 18

Krewe of Thor, 7pm (Metairie)

Krewe of Pyg- malion, 6:45pm (Uptown)

Krewe of Druids, 6pm (Uptown)

Feb. 19

Knights of Babylon, 5:45pm (Uptown)

Krewe of Muses, 6:30pm (Uptown)

Krewe of Chaos, 7pm (Uptown)

February 20

Mystic Krewe of Hermes, 6 (Uptown)

Le Krewe d'Etat, 6:30 (Uptown)

Krewe of Mor- pheus, 7:45pm (Uptown)

Krewe of Orpheus, 7pm (Metairie)

Krewe of Selene, 6:30 (Slidell)

February 21

Knights of (Cont'd next page)

Jason, 7:30pm (Metairie)

Krewe of Isis, 5:30pm (Metairie)

Krewe of Iris, 11am (Uptown)

Krewe of Tucks 12pm (Uptown)

Krewe of Endy- mion, 4:15pm (Mid-City)

Krewe of NOM- TOC, 10:45am (West Bank)

February 22

Krewe of Okeanos, 11am (Uptown)

Krewe of Thoth, 11:30am (Uptown)

Krewe of Mid- City, 12:15pm (Uptown)

Krewe of Bac- chus, 5:15pm (Uptown)

Krewe of Napoleon, 6:30pm (Metairie)

February 23

Krewe of Proteus, 5:15pm (Uptown)

Krewe of Orpheus, 6 (Uptown)

Krewe of Zeus, 6:30 (Metairie)

February 24

Krewe of Zulu, 8am (Uptown)

Krewe of Rex, 10am (Uptown)

Krewe of Argus, 10am (Metairie)

Krewe of Elks Orleans, 11:30am (Uptown)

Krewe of Cres- cent City, 12pm (Uptown)

Krewe of Grela, 11am (West Bank)

Krewe of Elks Jefferson, 11am (Metairie)

Krewe of Jefferson, 12pm (Metairie)