Mardi Gras Speak (the language of Mardi Gras)
Ash Wednesday – For those of you who aren’t Catholic, this is what started it all. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. Lent is a time of fasting and penance before Easter. Mardi Gras is the big blow out before we have to be good for 40 days (well, except for St. Patrick’s/St. Joseph celebrations). Many hung-over Catholics get ashes on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday. They also “fast” by giving up eating meat during Lent. In one of the seafood capitols of the US, that’s a real hardship.
Ball – large party held by krewe, formal parties. For the superkrewes the ball follows the parade. Orpheus is the only one open to the public, all others are by invite from a krewe member. For the older Krewes this is a very formal ball with a hierarchy of royalty. If you’re into those krewes you do their balls.
Beadwhore– Betty Beadwhore defines them as “Simply, anyone who loves earning beads!” She has made the term much more common. Annual party on Mardi Gras Sunday is one you’ll want to attend.
Ball – large party held by krewe, formal parties. For the superkrewes the ball follows the parade. Orpheus is the only one open to the public, all others are by invite from a krewe member. For the older Krewes this is a very formal ball with a hierarchy of royalty. If you’re into those krewes you do their balls.
Beadwhore– Betty Beadwhore defines them as “Simply, anyone who loves earning beads!” She has made the term much more common. Annual party on Mardi Gras Sunday is one you’ll want to attend.
Boeuf Gras - The fatted bull; a Lenten symbol of the last meat eaten before a season of fasting; a major float in the Krewe of Rex parade.
Bourbon Street Awards - annual gay costume contest at noon on Bourbon Street, some of the best costumes seen on Mardi Gras day.
BUB - the liquid that flows in the streets of the French Quarter, especially Bourbon Street - a mixture of booze, urine and barf.
Captain - the leader of a krewe; the most powerful person in the krewe, all decisions are made by them. Krewes are NOT democratic.
Carnival Noir - African-American Mardi Gras has many traditions. Some, like the Zulu parade, have melded with other traditions. Some, like the Baby Dolls and the Mardi Gras Indians, remain in their neighborhoods - especially Treme. Other important aspects of Carnival Noir are the Skull and Bones Gangs and the Mardi Gras Indians. A street atmosphere flourishes under I-10 between Esplanade and Canal Streets.
Carnival season (sometimes called Mardi Gras season) - The time between the Epiphany (January 6, the end of the Christmas season) and Ash Wednesday. That is technically the correct meaning - in practicality, most people call the whole season Mardi Gras.
Bourbon Street Awards - annual gay costume contest at noon on Bourbon Street, some of the best costumes seen on Mardi Gras day.
BUB - the liquid that flows in the streets of the French Quarter, especially Bourbon Street - a mixture of booze, urine and barf.
Captain - the leader of a krewe; the most powerful person in the krewe, all decisions are made by them. Krewes are NOT democratic.
Carnival Noir - African-American Mardi Gras has many traditions. Some, like the Zulu parade, have melded with other traditions. Some, like the Baby Dolls and the Mardi Gras Indians, remain in their neighborhoods - especially Treme. Other important aspects of Carnival Noir are the Skull and Bones Gangs and the Mardi Gras Indians. A street atmosphere flourishes under I-10 between Esplanade and Canal Streets.
Carnival season (sometimes called Mardi Gras season) - The time between the Epiphany (January 6, the end of the Christmas season) and Ash Wednesday. That is technically the correct meaning - in practicality, most people call the whole season Mardi Gras.
Courir du Mardi Gras - A Cajun Mardi Gras celebration where costumed men ride horseback through the countryside collecting rice, chicken and other ingredients for gumbo that is served at a celebration afterward. Practiced in several small towns in Louisiana, especially in the Acadiana region. This is a whole different Mardi Gras!!
Doubloons - Aluminum coins stamped with krewe's insigna, theme, or other things. They are not thrown at all parades or by all floats. They are sought out by some and ignored by others, You don't want to bend down and pick one up while they are still flying, the custom is to step on them and pick them up once the float has passed.
Flambeaux - Torches and their carriers in parades. Historically they were the lighting for night parades. It is customary to tip them. It used to be change thrown would be picked up by them - and they would dance while carrying the flames. Now they don't dance as much, but if I notice one with good moves I try to tip them a dollar bill or two.
Flash - To briefly exposing a pair of female body part that are usually unseen. Can be for the group’s enjoyment or part of a “trade” for beads. *See what’s known as “the Boobie Manifesto” by many – a missive well written by one fine jeweler, Julie.
Float – the big vehicles in parades. In krewe parades they are pulled by tractors; in truck parades they are pulled by semis.
Forumite – members of a forum. In this case many of us “met” on the NOLA.COM Mardi Gras Forum, then actually met at Mardi Gras. Some lasting friendships have developed and continue to develop among forumites. Since that time many in the group have moved on and are no longer on the forum for different reasons, but the friendships remain.
Go-cup - a plastic cup given in bars or restaurants to take drinks on the street. In the French Quarter it is legal to walk around with a drink in you hand as long as it’s not in a glass container. Anyplace you go will either serve their drinks in a “go-cup” or give you one when you’re ready to leave if you ask.
Flambeaux - Torches and their carriers in parades. Historically they were the lighting for night parades. It is customary to tip them. It used to be change thrown would be picked up by them - and they would dance while carrying the flames. Now they don't dance as much, but if I notice one with good moves I try to tip them a dollar bill or two.
Flash - To briefly exposing a pair of female body part that are usually unseen. Can be for the group’s enjoyment or part of a “trade” for beads. *See what’s known as “the Boobie Manifesto” by many – a missive well written by one fine jeweler, Julie.
Float – the big vehicles in parades. In krewe parades they are pulled by tractors; in truck parades they are pulled by semis.
Forumite – members of a forum. In this case many of us “met” on the NOLA.COM Mardi Gras Forum, then actually met at Mardi Gras. Some lasting friendships have developed and continue to develop among forumites. Since that time many in the group have moved on and are no longer on the forum for different reasons, but the friendships remain.
Go-cup - a plastic cup given in bars or restaurants to take drinks on the street. In the French Quarter it is legal to walk around with a drink in you hand as long as it’s not in a glass container. Anyplace you go will either serve their drinks in a “go-cup” or give you one when you’re ready to leave if you ask.
King Cake - A pastry (like a coffee-cake) with icing and sugar colored with the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold and a plastic baby inside. Available anytime during Carnival season. Traditionally served at parties and gatherings during Mardi Gras. The person who finds the baby in their piece of cake is the "king" of the party and either hosts the next party or buys the next kingcake.
KOE - Krewe that walks together on Mardi Gras morning in the French Quarter. Many forumites are also members of KOE. It's great fun to be in a walking krewe. Started as Krewe of Elvis, it is the first cyber-krewe, with members keeping in touch throughout the year via the internet.
Krewe - A group of people gathered together to put on a parade or ball during Mardi Gras. Run by a Captain, who has all say over the group.
Lagniappe - "a little something extra"
Laissez le Bon Temp Rouler! - Let the good times roll!
Lundi Gras - The Monday before Mardi Gras. There are many activities along the river on Lundi Gras. Rex and Zulu arrive by boat and greet each other. There's good food and good FREE music.
KOE - Krewe that walks together on Mardi Gras morning in the French Quarter. Many forumites are also members of KOE. It's great fun to be in a walking krewe. Started as Krewe of Elvis, it is the first cyber-krewe, with members keeping in touch throughout the year via the internet.
Krewe - A group of people gathered together to put on a parade or ball during Mardi Gras. Run by a Captain, who has all say over the group.
Lagniappe - "a little something extra"
Laissez le Bon Temp Rouler! - Let the good times roll!
Lundi Gras - The Monday before Mardi Gras. There are many activities along the river on Lundi Gras. Rex and Zulu arrive by boat and greet each other. There's good food and good FREE music.
Mardi Gras Indians - African-American men who dress in elaborate, hand beaded, sequined and featherd costumes to signify their street or tribe. There are several different tribes of Indians and several different members in each tribe. They are a sight to see - if you can find them. They don't have an organized parade. Each tribe has its own route.
Mardi Gras is a day. It is Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday - the start of Lent. Contrary to the popular belief, the whole season isn't Mardi Gras, it's just one day. But who's picky about wording when it's Mardi Gras??
Masker - Someone who dresses in mask and/or costume. This is an older term that I don't hear much.
Moon Pie - A graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate (of different flavors) treat that you can buy in stores in the south. If you're lucky you might catch one thrown from a float.
Neutral Ground - The median or grassy strip in the middle of the street. During Mardi Gras this is one of the ways you describe where you'll be located during a parade. You're either sidewalk or neutral ground side of the street. Krewe members also let people know which side of the float they'll be on. In that case their riding position is based on where the neutral ground is at the beginning of their parade.
Second-line - A dancing procession with people waving white handkerchiefs or napkins, usually led by a brass band and/or a person dancing with a colorful umbrella.
T-chop - Tchoupitoulas Street. Many of the forumites watch the parade on T-chop.
Throws - Things thrown by krewe members from their float in parades. They can range from cheap beads to plush animals to specialty krewe items. Some krewes have home-made "specialty" throws that are coveted because of their artistic value and rarity. These include the Zulu coconut, Muses shoe, Nyx purse and Tucks plunger.
Trade– the act of barter. At Mardi Gras this is almost always trading a flash for beads or beads for different beads. Explained in a couple of Julie’s blogs – the Boobie Manifesto and Males of Mardi Gras Field Guide.
Trucks - Semi trucks and the floats that they pull. Each float is individually owned by a group of friends or a family who decorate and ride on it. The major truck parades follow the krewe parades on Mardi Gras day and go on and on and ON.
Twelfth Night – the Epiphany, the end of the Christmas season and beginning of Carnival season.
Virgin - for Mardi Gras the term has nothing to do with sex - it just means it's your first time
Where Y’at - the local way of saying “How are you doing?”
Mardi Gras is a day. It is Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday - the start of Lent. Contrary to the popular belief, the whole season isn't Mardi Gras, it's just one day. But who's picky about wording when it's Mardi Gras??
Masker - Someone who dresses in mask and/or costume. This is an older term that I don't hear much.
Moon Pie - A graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate (of different flavors) treat that you can buy in stores in the south. If you're lucky you might catch one thrown from a float.
Neutral Ground - The median or grassy strip in the middle of the street. During Mardi Gras this is one of the ways you describe where you'll be located during a parade. You're either sidewalk or neutral ground side of the street. Krewe members also let people know which side of the float they'll be on. In that case their riding position is based on where the neutral ground is at the beginning of their parade.
Second-line - A dancing procession with people waving white handkerchiefs or napkins, usually led by a brass band and/or a person dancing with a colorful umbrella.
T-chop - Tchoupitoulas Street. Many of the forumites watch the parade on T-chop.
Throws - Things thrown by krewe members from their float in parades. They can range from cheap beads to plush animals to specialty krewe items. Some krewes have home-made "specialty" throws that are coveted because of their artistic value and rarity. These include the Zulu coconut, Muses shoe, Nyx purse and Tucks plunger.
Trade– the act of barter. At Mardi Gras this is almost always trading a flash for beads or beads for different beads. Explained in a couple of Julie’s blogs – the Boobie Manifesto and Males of Mardi Gras Field Guide.
Trucks - Semi trucks and the floats that they pull. Each float is individually owned by a group of friends or a family who decorate and ride on it. The major truck parades follow the krewe parades on Mardi Gras day and go on and on and ON.
Twelfth Night – the Epiphany, the end of the Christmas season and beginning of Carnival season.
Virgin - for Mardi Gras the term has nothing to do with sex - it just means it's your first time
Where Y’at - the local way of saying “How are you doing?”