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U.S. NEWSWednesday 10 February
American Living:
With costumes, beads, music, New Orleans marks Fat Tuesday
Associated Press The North Side Skull & Bone Gang stand together during the wake up call for Mardi Gras, Tuesday, French Quarter with her
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Feb. 9, 2016, in New Orleans. Their costumes are intended to represent the dead and they bring a three children, their black-
Dressed in elaborate cos- serious message, reminding people of their mortality and the need to live a productive and good and-white faces painted
tumes, dancing to the life. like skeletons inspired by
beat of brass bands and Dia de los Muertos, the
clamoring for beads from (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Mexican Day of the Dead:
passing floats, thousands “It’s been a tradition here
of people gathered in the man wearing a Steve Har- as well. The two truck pa- been hollowed out, and for so long. They grow up
streets of New Orleans to vey mask standing with two rades that follow Rex mark the outside hair is removed; with it, and they love it.
mark the culmination of women wearing beauty the end of the major pa- they’re then decorated
the famous Mardi Gras queen sashes that read rades in the city until 2017. with glitter or elaborate de- THE MORNING
celebration Tuesday. The “Miss Colombia” and “Miss After the parades, the signs. Riders in the Zulu pa- Before sunrise Tuesday,
last day of parades rolled Philippines,” in homage street party generally rade also threw out small about 100 people turned
along St. Charles Avenue to Harvey’s blunder at the moves to the French Quar- stuffed animals, specially out at the Backstreet Cul-
and Canal Street, float Miss Universe contest. One ter, where revelers pack decorated beads and hats tural Museum to see the
riders throwing beads to woman dressed as a jelly- Bourbon Street and the with the words “Zulu” em- North Side Skull & Bone
bystanders as revelers in fish while others dressed as celebration gets a bit more blazoned in yellow. Gang come out. The gang
other parts of the city like dragons. risque. The festivities come is a longtime Mardi Gras
the French Quarter and to an end at the stroke of THE FAMILY tradition. Members wear
the Marigny partied in THE PARADES midnight when a wedge Despite Mardi Gras’ repu- costumes resembling skel-
the streets in elaborate The Krewe of Zulu parade of mounted police officers tation as being a raucous, etons with papier-ma-
costumes. Fat Tuesday is is put on by the Zulu Social rides down Bourbon to adults-only party, much che masks covering their
the last day of the Carni- Aid & Pleasure Club, a his- clear it of revelers and de- of the celebration is actu- heads. They go through
val season before Lent, a torically black organization clare the party over. ally family-friendly. Families the neighborhood waking
period of penance and in New Orleans. Their pa- lined up early along the people up on Fat Tuesday.
spiritual renewal, begins rade dates back to roughly THE “THROWS” side of the streets or on the Dabne Whitemore came
Wednesday. “It’s fun. You 1910, and is followed by the Riders on the floats gener- median — called the neu- to the door in her white
see all the people. You Rex Organization’s parade, ally wear masks and throw tral ground in New Orleans bathrobe after hearing the
see everybody dressed which dates back to 1872. beads or other specially — to get a good seat, of- gang and its drums com-
up, and you have a good Rex’s history is closely tied made trinkets to people ten bringing ladders with ing from down the street:
time. I love New Orleans,” with Mardi Gras traditions. along the parade route. specially designed seats “I was laying in my bed
said Barbara Tate, who For example, Rex’s colors One especially prized on top for kids to sit in and upstairs in the back, and I
came down from Mary- — purple, green and gold “throw” is the coconuts catch beads or throws. heard the drums coming
land for the holiday. — have become the sym- given out by members of Naomi Shows, from Coving- and I knew it was time. ...
bolic colors of Mardi Gras Zulu. The coconuts have ton, Louisiana, came to the They come and wake me
THE COSTUMES up every morning for 15
When it comes to Mardi years.”
Gras, anything goes for
costumes. Caroline Thom- THE WEATHER
as, from New Orleans, Cold. Winds gusting up
spent weeks creating her to 30 mph made mid-40s
elaborate costume featur- temperatures feel lower.
ing a massive feathered People along the parade
headdress so striking that route wore thick jackets
bystanders wanted to take and hats, and wrapped
photos with her. “I’m not themselves under lay-
anything specific because ers of blankets as they
I think the beauty of Mardi watched the floats roll by.
Gras is that you don’t have Tate, from Maryland, said
to be a thing. You just have it was fun but a little chilly:
to look cool,” she said. “I “I was hoping it would be
just wanted to be my own a bit warmer. I didn’t know
Mardi Gras priestess.” Oth- I needed to bring long
ers costumes included an underwear.”q
