This Mardi Gras Glossary will help you get ready for the Carnival Season which has begun. Β Now you are ready to go and party like a real New Orleans.Β  Let us go over some key words and phrases and Β you will be ready to have fun! Β The history behind some of these words are fascinating and I enjoyed doing the research. Β  Let us get started with the Mardi Gras Glossary.

French Quarter – Mardi Gras Glossary

Mardi Gras Glossary That Will Make Carnival Fun! 1AdventureTraveler

Take a Carriage Ride…

New Orleans Glossary That Will Make Carnival Fun! 1AdventureTraveler

St. Louis Cathedral

New Orleans Glossary That Will Make Carnival Fun! 1AdventureTraveler

Voodoo Shop New Orleans

Mardi Gras Glossary That Will Make Carnival Fun! 1AdventureTraveler

Parade Throws – Mardi Gras Beads!

Mardi GrasΒ Glossary

Mardi Gras Glossary That Will Make Carnival Fun! 1AdventureTraveler

Ash Wednesday

First day of Lent in Western Christianity that signifies the end of Carnival season.

Bacchus

One of the Three Super Krewes of New Orleans where business leaders whose dream was to revitalize Carnival.Β  1968 started the first night parade that ends at the Convention Center.Β  Following the parade starts their black-tie event featuring celebrity entertainment.

Ball

Private formal affair where the King and Queen of that Krewe is made public.Β  Sometimes Invitations are given to others not in the Krewe.Β  A ball is after a Parade for the Super Krewes.

Carnival Season

Starts after the Epiphany which is the end of the Christmas Season and then the parades, balls and other celebrations happen, leading up to Mardi Gras.

Colors of Mardi Gras

Yellow, Green and Purple.

Doubloon

Most cherished and oldest throw, a coin which started with the Rex parade.Β  Each Krewe has their face on the coin.

Endymion

One of Three Super Krewes, known for their stunning floats and new technology.Β  The Grand Marshal is a celebrity.Β  Endymion ball is hosted in the Super Dome.

Epiphany

Three Kings day and the start of Carnival Season.

Fat Tuesday

Last day of the Carnival Season that ends at midnight and always the day before Ash Wednesday.

Flambeaux

A Flaming Torch part of the Mardi Gras Tradition.Β  First debuted with the Mistick Krewe in 1857 and used for revelers to see the Carnival Parades.Β  Originally the torches were wooden wrapped with lit pine tar rags.Β  Then evolved into oil-burning lanterns.

King Cake

A Pastry that is part of the New Orleans tradition.Β  The King Cake is circular, filled with fruit, and is baked with a small plastic baby hidden inside.Β  The person who gets the baby hosts the next party.Β  Usually the icing on the cake is yellow, green and purple.

Krewe

Consists of a King, Queen and a Court who work all year for the big, spectacular ball.

Laissez les bon temps roulez

“Let the good times roll”:Β  A French saying associated with Mardi Gras.

Lundi Gras

Monday before Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras).Β  Includes the tradition of Rex, the King of New Orleans Carnival arrival by boat.Β  Check for parades on this day.

Mardi Gras

Traced back to Medieval Europe and found its way to New Orleans by a French-Canadian Explorer.Β  Also is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and signifies the end of the Carnival Season.Β  Mardi Gras is where there are Parades with dazzling floats and masked balls throughout the entire Carnival Season.

Mardi Gras Indians

Part of the secrecy of Mardi Gras.Β  They were comprised of the African-American community.Β  They wore masks, were violent and on Mardi Gras would settle old scores in the old day.

Masquerade

Where some pretends to be someone they are not by wearing a mask.Β  The wearer was free to roam and mingle with different classes.Β  Float riders are required to wear masks and on Fat Tuesday everyone is free to wear a mask.

Neutral Ground

The median and is public property.Β  The place where people stand to watch the parade and receive Throws from the Floats.

Rex

A Krewe known for it’s elaborately decorated hand painted floats.Β  Origin of the Carnival Colors Purple, Green and Gold and also the doubloons coins.Β  Founded in 1872.

Super Krewe

Krewes that produce large parades and an indoor extravaganza the night of the parade. Β The three Super Krewe’s are Bacchus, Orpheus, and Endymion.

Throws

A throw can be a doubloon, toys, cups, beads, trinkets, and more which are thrown to the crowd form the float during the parade.Β  Sometimes you must be fast to catch your throw especially if it lands on the ground.Β  As you reach for the trinket someone might stomp on your hand for that special throw.

Throw me something mister

A saying when one wants a throw from the King, Queen or Court on the float during a Parade.

Zulu

Started in 1909 by a group of laborers who organized a club called β€œThe Tramps” who met and emerged from a meeting as the Zulu Tribe. Β The group started in the Parade wearing ragged pants then by 1915 first used floats constructed on spring wagon with boxed dried goods. Β  For 2017 Zulu’s theme for Carnival is “Stop the Violence”. Β 

Mardi Gras Glossary That Will Make Carnival Fun! 1AdventureTraveler

Other – Mardi Gras Glossary

Now that you know the important Mardi Gras Glossary words and phrases, you are ready to visit New Orleans for Carnival. Β Hurry on down, while it is happening right now! Β For more information on Carnival check out my blog “How to Celebrate Mardi Gras New Orleans. Β 

New Orleans Glossary That Will Make Carnival Fun! 1AdventureTraveler

Cafe Du Monde go in for some cafe and beignets.

Remember to “Laissez les bon temps roulez”. Β Β Happy Mardi Gras!Β  You can also look for more exciting locations at –Β Β 1AdventureTraveler.

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Mardi Gras Glossary That Will Make Carnival Fun! 1AdventureTraveler

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