January 6 is the Twelfth Night which means the beginning of the Mardi Gras or Carnival Season.
Less than two weeks after Christmas, New Orleans starts the celebration of the Twelfth Night.
January 6th is referred to as the Feast of the Epiphany, when the Three Wise Men visited the Christ child.
The Mardi Gras krewes are also back in action this year and the first parade is January 6th as well. The Krewe of Joan of Arc, also the patron saint of New Orleans, is scheduled to roll out at 7PM. Krewe of Joan of Arc parades that evening in The French Quarter and begins at the corner of Bienville and N. Front Street.
Afterwards the krewes The Société Des Champs Elysée, The Phunny Phorty Phellows who will be followed by The Funky Uptown Krewe will be parading.
For a full schedule of the parade dates, time, locations and krewe descriptions visit: https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/parades/
Photo credit: Nola.com, Member of Krewe of Joan of Arc in costume.
Thanks for visiting!
Since the pandemic has totally wrecked the Mardi Gras season for 2021 a lot of artists have had a difficult time with getting work. But New Orleans is the city that will hold it's own no matter what happens. So a project was created by the Krewe of Red Beans where anyone can arrange to hire an artist.
Parades are on hold this year but houses are being decorated with all sorts of theme for Mardi Gras. The Hire A Mardi Gras Artist utilizes crowd funding where you can go to their site and make a purchase or donate. They then use the funds to hire local laid off Mardi Gras workers, musicians and artists. Instead of parade floats they are contracted to transform houses into works of Mardi Gras creativity and unique beauty for all to see.
Check out https://hireamardigrasartist.com/ and help support the artists!
Thanks for visiting, please feel to leave comments.
I was contacted through Twitter by a representative of the Krewe of Freret suggesting a post on how to join their krewe. Since my blog is about all things Mardi Gras, here it is!
You won't see them with the rest of the krewes and walking clubs during the Mardi Gras celebrations.That's because they don't hang out around Canal Street near the French Quarter or Uptown near St. Charles Avenue where all the other krewes parade. I admit, because I didn't know the schedule until late last year, I still haven't seen them perform myself. You may be able to see them at the Jazz and Heritage Festivals if you don't catch them on Mardi Gras Day, St. Joseph's Day or a Super Sunday. I'm referring to the Mardi Gras Indians, the oldest African American Mardi Gras Krewe.
The Krewe of Orpheus is one of the newer additions to the Mardi Gras Carnival Parade. It was founded in 1993 by musician and native of New Orleans, Harry Connick, Jr. His father, Harry Connick, Sr. is also a member and is currently president. Orpheus takes it's name from the mythological Greek god of music. Traditionally their parade route goes through the Uptown section of New Orleans. 
In the early 1900's a group of African American laborers created a Social or Benevolent Aid Society which eventually came to be called the Zulus. These organizations were set up for African American residents of New Orleans where they could pay dues in order to be able to arrange for funeral costs. These societies were known to offer them the earliest forms of insurance. 
A krewe is a group of individuals that participates in Mardi Gras parades, balls and other related activities. This tradition in New Orleans goes back to the 1800's. Krewes that were formed during that time include Rex, Comus and Proteus. These organizations offered businessmen of those times good connections and credentials.
