It’s a tradition that is almost as old as New Orleans itself. The celebration began on Fat Tuesday and in an atmosphere that is most like the Rio Carnival, the annual Mardi Gras celebration got underway. For revelers, there were trinkets, music, beads, and of course, alcohol. The French Quarter of the city devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, was packed to its limit once again. People turned out by the hundreds of thousands in order to see debauchery at its finest.
The drinking started just after dawn. There were some outrageous costumes and more than just a few people flashing their skin. It will all continue until the New Orleans police begin to break up the party around midnight. That is when Lent begins.
People like Tom White, who is 46 years old and prancing around in a pink tutu are a normal sight here. He was riding around on a bicycle, as was his wife. White said that he was going as the “pink fairy” this year. He said that some of the best experiences of Mardi Gras is seeing the costumes. He said that he doesn’t have to get too creative, either. A 200 pound man running around in a pink tutu is more than enough to draw attention. His wife didn’t don a costume, though. She said that her husband had already done more than enough to embarrass the family.
Many people were struggling Tuesday morning after a very long night of drinking. There were many restaurants serving up Bloody Marys in an effort to help people get rid of their hangovers.
Mardi Gras is celebrated around the world and there are elaborate parties, parades, costumes, and events that come with the special day. The first major parade in New Orleans was the Zulu krewe. The members are dressing black face makeup and wigs. It’s the same look that the Zulu riders have had for decades. The members handed out decorated coconuts, which are some of Mardi Gras’ most coveted trinkets.
After Zulu, the King of Carnival parade made its way down St. Charles Avenue. There were pleas from those in attendance for beads, trinkets, and doubloons. Some of the people had arrived early Monday to snag the best seats for watching the parade. There were also a ton of tailgate type parties in full swing.
