Mardi Gras always falls on the Tuesday before Lent. Lundi Gras is a holiday unique to New Orleans, and is celebrated the Monday BEFORE the Tuesday before the Wednesday Lent begins! Lundi Gras falls on February 4th this year and Mardi Gras falls on the 5th. Lent begins Wednesday the 6th.
Lundi Gras is French for "Fat Monday." The Lundi Gras tradition began in 1874 in New Orleans, when King Rex (the OFFICIAL King of Mardi Gras) made a grand entrance from a decorated-up Mississippi River paddlewheel boat. His royal boat docked near the Quarter, where King Rex and his royalty were given a grand welcome and were escorted by carriage to City Hall. City officials ceremoniously handed the keys of the city over to Rex, officially signifying that Rex's imaginary reign would begin at dawn the next day (Mardi Gras).
World War I put a stop to the official celebration of Lundi Gras in New Orleans, but it continued to be observed underground by krewes (the generic word for all Carnival organizations in New Orleans) whom tried to carry the tradition on with commemmorative balls, parties, etc. for six decades. Rex again made his "official" Lundi Gras entrance again in 1987, reviving the public recognition of Lundi Gras in New Orleans.
I watched King Rex accept the keys to the city from New Orleans' Mayor Nagin on the six o'clock news last night, signifying the "official" beginning of Mardi Gras! (People here take this stuff seriously!?)
Justis is now the proud caretaker of his new lemonade stand! I included pictures of he and the kids standing by it. They are itching to sell some lemonade. We're finding it very hard to explain to them it's still winter and not the appropriate season for lemonade selling. The weather is not helping. It was 84 degrees today, which means summer to my kids.
Happy Lundi Gras. Bet you never thought you'd be educated about a holiday revolving around an imaginary king and a crazy carnival celebration, huh?
Lundi Gras is French for "Fat Monday." The Lundi Gras tradition began in 1874 in New Orleans, when King Rex (the OFFICIAL King of Mardi Gras) made a grand entrance from a decorated-up Mississippi River paddlewheel boat. His royal boat docked near the Quarter, where King Rex and his royalty were given a grand welcome and were escorted by carriage to City Hall. City officials ceremoniously handed the keys of the city over to Rex, officially signifying that Rex's imaginary reign would begin at dawn the next day (Mardi Gras).
World War I put a stop to the official celebration of Lundi Gras in New Orleans, but it continued to be observed underground by krewes (the generic word for all Carnival organizations in New Orleans) whom tried to carry the tradition on with commemmorative balls, parties, etc. for six decades. Rex again made his "official" Lundi Gras entrance again in 1987, reviving the public recognition of Lundi Gras in New Orleans.
I watched King Rex accept the keys to the city from New Orleans' Mayor Nagin on the six o'clock news last night, signifying the "official" beginning of Mardi Gras! (People here take this stuff seriously!?)
Justis is now the proud caretaker of his new lemonade stand! I included pictures of he and the kids standing by it. They are itching to sell some lemonade. We're finding it very hard to explain to them it's still winter and not the appropriate season for lemonade selling. The weather is not helping. It was 84 degrees today, which means summer to my kids.
Happy Lundi Gras. Bet you never thought you'd be educated about a holiday revolving around an imaginary king and a crazy carnival celebration, huh?
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