This is the time of year for Mardi Gras and all the celebrations that come with the tradition. Mardi Gras is celebrated now in almost every large city including Dallas TX. and especially along the Gulf Coast. You don’t associate moving and Mardi Gras, but there is a lot of coordination in planning and actually getting the floats to the staging area of the parade. Just ask anyone that has had to coordinate the floats on the day of the parade.
Moving and Mardi Gras
The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced to medieval Europe, passing through Rome and Venice in the 17th and 18th centuries to the French House of the Bourbons. From here, the traditional revelry of “Boeuf Gras,” or fatted calf, followed France to her colonies.
On March 2, 1699, French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville arrived at a plot of ground 60 miles directly south of New Orleans, and named it “Pointe du Mardi Gras” when his men realized it was the eve of the festive holiday. Bienville also established “Fort Louis de la Louisiane” (which is now Mobile) in 1702. In 1703, the tiny settlement of Fort Louis de la Mobile celebrated America’s very first Mardi Gras.
In 1704, Mobile established a secret society (Masque de la Mobile), similar to those that form our current Mardi Gras krewes. It lasted until 1709. In 1710, the “Boeuf Gras Society” was formed and paraded from 1711 through 1861. The procession was held with a huge bull’s head pushed alone on wheels by 16 men. Later, Rex would parade with an actual bull, draped in white and signaling the coming Lenten meat fast. This occurred on Fat Tuesday.
As the days go I will try and post some more about moving and Mardi Gras. Also if you want to learn more about Mardi Gras in Dallas just follow this link for more information http://mardigrasdfw.com/
