Mardi Gras Part 3: It All Ends in a Ball
Leading up to Mardi Gras I have been sharing all the fun stuff I have learned about the holiday over the past couple years! For a recap…
And finally this brings me to Part 3: It All Ends in a Ball! So one thing I had absolutely no clue about Mardi Gras is that big fancy, black tie-event Balls are part of the package! All I had known about Mardi Gras was basically the opposite… I had envisioned lots of intoxicated women flashing for beads… though this IS true in the French Quarter, it is mostly just reserved for tourists. If you are a local, the thing to do is join a Krewe and attend a Mardi Gras Ball!
As described by the Mardi Gras New Orleans website…
"While most people think of parades when they think of Mardi Gras, there are plenty of other traditions too. The King and Queen of each krewe work all year long for the big, spectacular ball. Their identity is a closely guarded secret and part of the mystique until the night of the Ball.
And finally this brings me to Part 3: It All Ends in a Ball! So one thing I had absolutely no clue about Mardi Gras is that big fancy, black tie-event Balls are part of the package! All I had known about Mardi Gras was basically the opposite… I had envisioned lots of intoxicated women flashing for beads… though this IS true in the French Quarter, it is mostly just reserved for tourists. If you are a local, the thing to do is join a Krewe and attend a Mardi Gras Ball!
As described by the Mardi Gras New Orleans website…
"While most people think of parades when they think of Mardi Gras, there are plenty of other traditions too. The King and Queen of each krewe work all year long for the big, spectacular ball. Their identity is a closely guarded secret and part of the mystique until the night of the Ball.
Most of the balls are a formal and private affair for the krewe. Debutantes are introduced at the Ball Tableau as a formal introduction to society. In climbing the social ladder, children start by serving as pages to the court. Women dress in ball gowns and hope to be issued a "call-out" card. If a debutante is fortunate enough to receive one, she is seated in a select area and waits her turn to be "called out" for a dance by the krewe member who sent the card. A night of dining and dancing with a prince in formal attire - what a dream!
Attendance at the older, more aristocratic balls is by invitation only. No one really feels left out if they don't receive an invitation, though. Many prominent people aren't invited, including governors wanting to attend. Ball invitations were originally die-cut and printed in Paris. Even today they can be quite colorful and valuable works of art. Invitations can also be collectors’ items framed for their beauty and considered interesting conversation pieces."
Who knew!? What a cool addition to the holiday! The more popular and exclusive Krewes host their balls in grand locations… such as in the Superdome (Krewe of Endymion) and in the Convention Center (Krewe of Orpheus). They will get famous celebrities to ride in the parade and then perform/attend the ball!
Mardi Gras this year is February 9th but the season has been going on for weeks! I don't even have work on Tuesday because downtown New Orleans will be full of parades and thousands of people (I can't physically get to work even if I wanted to)!! So Happy (early) Mardi Gras! <3 WC
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