Mardi Gras Frequently Asked Questions

So you're traveling to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Find out what you need to know about krewes, parades, bringing the family and more. We've got Arthur Hardy, the #1 local authority on Mardi Gras, answering frequently asked questions about Carnival season and Mardi Gras in New Orleans. And remember: New Orleans hotel rooms are typically sold out before the Christmas holidays. Book your room in a New Orleans hotel on a Mardi Gras parade route today!

Q: Is Mardi Gras X-rated? Can we bring the kids?
A: Please do bring the kids. Mardi Gras is not X-rated. The images you see of half-naked people bartering flesh for beads are mostly the wild antics of visiting coeds on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, where Mardi Gras parades have not rolled since 1973. Unfortunately, these pictures have gained so much publicity that they have become the national image of Mardi Gras. The truth is, Mardi Gras is a safe, G-rated event enjoyed by families, both local and visiting. Daytime parades, in particular, are routinely crowded with kids of all ages. Here are some kids at Mardi Gras tips to help you have a fun, safe Mardi Gras with the little ones.
 
Q: Why are beads such a big deal during Mardi Gras?
A: Colorful, plastic Mardi Gras beads are just one of many "throws" — baubles that krewe members toss to the crowds from their float. These inexpensive trinkets are what turn Mardi Gras parades into crowd participation events. Float riders often spend $500 or more on beads, cups, and doubloons, and these items serve as souvenirs of the parade. The more elaborate, hand-made throws, like the painted coconuts of Zulu and the decorated shoes given by members of the Muses krewe, are the rarest and most coveted throws.
 
Q: What's the difference between Carnival and Mardi Gras?
A: Carnival, which means "farewell to flesh," refers to the entire season of celebration leading up to Mardi Gras. The Carnival season always begins on January 6, on the Feast of the Epiphany — a date set by the Catholic Church as the start of the period of feasting before the fasting of Lent. Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is the single culminating day of Carnival. It is always the day before Ash Wednesday.
 
Q: Why does the date of Mardi Gras change?
A: Mardi Gras is connected to the moveable date of Easter, which can fall on any Sunday from March 23 to April 25. Mardi Gras is scheduled 47 days before Easter and can occur on any Tuesday from February 3 through March 9.
 
Q: Why are there no parades in the French Quarter?
A: For 117 years, nearly every New Orleans Mardi Gras parade rolled through the French Quarter. In 1973, the New Orleans fire and police departments felt that the increased size of parade floats and the crowds that gathered to see them rendered the narrow streets unsafe, so the city issued a ban on parades in this historic district.
 
Q: Why can't I buy an official Mardi Gras poster or souvenir?
A: Unlike the Olympics or the Super Bowl, there is no governing authority to license Mardi Gras products. Mardi Gras is like Christmas and Halloween — it belongs to everyone. Beware of any item that claims to be the "official" anything of Mardi Gras. Parade throws are free souvenirs, and there is no shortage of stores around the French Quarter selling Mardi Gras-themed t-shirts, posters and trinkets.

We're a little biased, but we think one of the best souvenirs of Mardi Gras is Arthur Hardy's annual Mardi Gras Guide. Arthur Hardy is a premiere authority on Mardi Gras and has been publishing the colorful, informative Mardi Gras Guide since 1977. Order your copy today!
 
Q: How big is Mardi Gras?
A: Very big. The latest economic impact report indicates that Mardi Gras generates more than $1 billion dollars in annual spending. A recent Carnival season included 53 parades in a three-parish (county) area and featured a total of 1,061 floats, 588 marching bands, 3,750 total parade units and more than 135,000 participants. The combined parade routes covered 301 miles and the processions were on the street for a total of 204 hours.
 
Q: Who coordinates Mardi Gras?
A:  Mardi Gras, the "greatest free show on Earth," is not organized or sponsored by any entity — city, corporate or otherwise. Mardi Gras is the only festival in the world where the stars foot the bill and the audience gets a free ride. By tradition and by law, Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans do not accept corporate sponsors. Carnival clubs are chartered as non-profit organizations. They are financed by dues, by the sale of krewe merchandise to members, and by fundraising projects.

While the police department issues parade permits, there is no overall authority that coordinates the five dozen parades held in the metro area during the 12 days that precede Fat Tuesday. Each parading organization is completely autonomous. Mardi Gras has developed into a world-class tourist attraction, yet the City of New Orleans doesn't spend one cent promoting it.
  
Q: When was the first Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans?
A: On February 24, 1857. The Mistick Krewe of Comus, Carnival's first secret society, coined the word "krewe" and was the first to choose a mythological namesake, to present a themed parade with floats, and to follow it with a tableaux ball. Read more Mardi Gras History.
 
Q: Has Mardi Gras ever been canceled?
A: Yes, but not often. Since 1857, only 13 Fat Tuesdays have been affected. Most cancelations were caused by wars: Civil, WWI, WWII and Korean.
 
Q: How do krewes choose their names?
A: The colorful world of Greek, Roman, and Egyptian mythology is the source of nearly half of the parading krewe names. Other clubs are named after the neighborhoods through which they travel, while some are named after historical figures or places.
 
Q: Why is Rex called the King of Carnival?
A: While most krewes feature a king, Rex has been proclaimed the undisputed King of the entire Carnival celebration since 1872 when the Rex organization presented New Orleans' first daytime Mardi Gras parade.
 
Q: What is the significance of the Mardi Gras colors purple, green and gold?
A: Purple represents justice, green stands for faith, and gold signifies power. Rex, the King of Carnival, selected them in 1872 for his first parade. While they were probably chosen simply because they looked good together and followed the rules of heraldry, Rex assigned a meaning to each in his 1892 parade, entitled "Symbolism of Colors."
 
Q: What are Mardi Gras balls and can I attend one?
A: Carnival balls are private formal affairs (tuxedos and long gowns required) and are by invitation only. Bals Masque (masked balls) in New Orleans pre-date the first parade by more than a century. More than 125 private balls are presented each season in the grand ballrooms of major hotels. Mock royalty reigns over each ball, where a king, queen, maids, and dukes are presented. In the older society krewes, the court is made up of debutantes. Some clubs stage "tableaux" (theatrical scenes) enacted by krewe members, and favors are given to special guests. Krewes such as Bacchus, Orpheus, Endymion, and Zulu have replaced the traditional ball with extravaganzas presented at the Louisiana Superdome and at the Morial Convention Center. Tickets are sold to these events.
 
Q: What is the theme for this year?
A: Mardi Gras as a whole does not have an annual theme. However, each individual krewe chooses a new subject or theme for their annual parade, and their floats and costumes reflect the theme. Among the more popular subjects have been history, children's stories, legends, geography, famous people, entertainment, mythology, and literature.
 
Q: Do I have to mask?
A: No, but you should -- at least on Fat Tuesday, the only day when street masking is legal (from dawn to dusk). Masking, which can be elaborate or makeshift, dates from Roman carnivals when assuming false identifies was a common practice. By law, float- riders must be masked at all times.
 
Q: Can I join a krewe?
A: Several of Carnival's newer organizations allow visitors to ride in their parades for a fee. Information is contained on individual krewes' websites. Rolling as Mardi Gras krewe royalty is another matter. The method of selecting Mardi Gras kings and other royalty varies from krewe to krewe. Some Carnival krewes choose celebrities to serve as krewe royalty. Rex, the King of Carnival, is chosen by the inner circle of the School of Design, the sponsoring organization for the Rex parade. Other krewes hold random drawings to pick their king and queen. Most clubs charge the selected monarch a fee to reign. In several of the newer krewes, elaborate ceremonies called "coronation balls" are staged to crown royalty.
 
Q: When did celebrities get involved in Mardi Gras?
A: The Krewe of Bacchus began the tradition of selecting celebrity kings with its first parade in 1969, when Danny Kaye reigned. Endymion and Orpheus also annually invite guest celebrities to ride in their parades. Some of the more popular stars who have appeared are Bob Hope, Dolly Parton, Wayne Newton, John Goodman, Jackie Gleason, Britney Spears, Kirk Douglas, Harry Connick Jr., Nicholas Cage and the Beach Boys.
 
Q: Is secrecy still a part of Carnival?
A: Yes. While many Carnival clubs are fairly accessible (many even have websites), some maintain the tradition of secrecy that has been a part of Mardi Gras since its earliest days. A unique custom in the older organizations is that the king's name is never made public. An exception is Rex, whose name is revealed the day before his parade. And while many in the media know his identity days in advance, the embargo on publishing it has never been violated.