It is that time of the year when Mardi Gras kicks off in Central Louisiana. Alexandria Mardi Gras Association will be celebrating it's 20th Anniversary for the event that grows in numbers each and every year!
Here are some fun facts about Mardi Gras:
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Mardi Gras is always scheduled 47 days before Easter (the 40 days of Lent, plus seven Sundays.)
- In 1857, the first krewe was organized. The Comus organization coined the word "Krewe" and established several Mardi Gras traditions: forming a secret Carnival society, choosing a mythological namesake, presenting a theme parade with floats.
- In 1872, Rex, the King of Carnival, selected the official colors of Mardi Gras: Purple, Gold, and Green Rex assigned a meaning to each in his 1892 parade, entitled Symbolism of Colors.
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Purple represents Justice
- Green stands for Faith
- Gold signifies Power
- The colorful worlds of Greek, Roman and Egyptian mythology are the sources for many krewe names.
- A visit from the Russian Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff was the partial inspiration for the first appearance of Rex in 1872. The King of Carnival immediately became the International symbol of Mardi Gras.
- The final year of the past century (1899) saw snow in New Orleans on Fat Tuesday, which fell on St. Valentine's Day. Legend has it that Rex paraded with a frozen mustache.
- Alexandria Mardi Gras Association was formed in 1994 by a group of local business people, headed by attorney Michael Tudor.
- Parade participants pay for 85% of the cost of the Alexandria Mardi Gras Krewe Parade.
- The tradition of celebrating Alexandria's Mardi Gras on Sunday was determined because it is the only day the Mardi Gras floats are available & will not conflict with other parades.
- The Alexandria Mardi Gras Association's official posters and t-shirts always have a Mardi Gras reveler located somewhere in the picture.
Here is the Calendar for the 2013 Mardi Gras season in Central Louisiana:
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Friday
February 08, 2013 (4:30 PM)
Hixson Autoplex College Cheerleaders & Classic Cars Parade
Route: Downtown Alexandria -
Murray - 5th - Jackson - 4th - 3rd to St. James St.
Jimmy Williams, Chairman Emeritus (Deceased)
Contact: Greg Gormanous (318) 792-2777
For classic car information & entries contact:
Daniel McGuffee - (318) 561-5893 cell (318) 419-7216 dmcguffee@redriverbank.net
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Saturday
February 09, 2013
AMGA Seventeenth Annual Children's Parade
Route: Downtown Alexandria -
Murray - 5th - Jackson - 4th - 3rd to St. James St.
Contact: Jenna Bonner at (318) 443-1200 or (318) 542-9084
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Saturday
February 09, 2013 (2:00 PM - 4:00 PM)
King Cake Party
Location: Alexandria Zoo (3016 Masonic Drive)
Admission: Regular Zoo Admission
Celebrate Mardi Gras at the Alexandria Zoo following the Children’s Parade! Enjoy king cake, music, costumed characters, and don’t miss the up-close encounters with Zoo animals. The Alexandria Animal Shelter will be on hand with dogs available for adoption.
Contact: Zoo Office (318) 441-6810
http://www.thealexandriazoo.com/
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Sunday
February 10, 2013 (2:00 PM)
AMGA 20th Annual Krewes Parade
Parade Route: Texas Ave. - Masonic - Memorial -
North Boulevard - Alexandria Mall
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FREE ZONE
Alcohol/Tobacco Free Area
Sunday February 10, 2013
11am – the end of the Parade
Alexandria Mall - Circuit City Parking Lot
