by Andrew Koslosky KGCHS, Contributing Writer
Back in the 1980’s when I first started coming on a regular basis to New Orleans, I quickly was introduced to the local cultural extravaganza known as Mardi Gras. You can understand how a Brooklyn New York boy would react when first confronted with this celebration. It didn’t take long for me to dive in and make the event a staple of my life.
But I have to confess, some of my best memories of Mardi Gras was the year I spent entertaining my New York friends and my brother Bobby, introducing them to Carnival Season in New Orleans.
Of course, it all started with me giving a little history lesson to my Northern Brothers. The only thing the press in New York covered about Mardi Gras had to do with “show me something,” as opposed to “throw me something.”
With this in mind I did my best to make it more real…
Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is a vibrant celebration steeped in history and rich with cultural significance. Mardi Gras has its roots in ancient European festivals that celebrated the arrival of spring.
The term “Mardi Gras” is French for “Fat Tuesday.”
It is a day that marks the final celebration before the start of Lent, the 40-day period of fasting and penance leading up to Easter. The most famous Mardi Gras celebrations took shape in the regions of France and later, with French colonization, in North America.
I went on to explain to my buddies, Mardi Gras falls on the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. I really thought I was rolling with my Intro to the boys. However, the immediate reaction from my New York fellows should have been expected.
“Hey Koz, when are we going down to Bourbon Street?”
How many of you have experienced that from the young crowd that comes in from out of town during the season? How about “isn’t Commander’s Palace down here? Let’s go eat!”
Despite this, let’s call it confusion, I was not deterred and continued my sale. I explained that while no location is more synonymous with the festivities than New Orleans, Mardi Gras is celebrated all over the world. Some of the bigger celebrations occur in Mobile, Alabama; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Venice, Italy; and Quebec City, Canada.
The heart of a New Orleans’ Mardi Gras celebration lies in its spectacular parades and its formal Ball Masque celebrations. Thousands gather to witness elaborate floats with colorful themes, vibrant costumes, and spirited music. Krewes are organizations that sponsor these parades, each with its own themes and characters.
A hallmark of the New Orleans celebration is the tradition of “throwing “from floats into the crowd” beads, cups, and toys to parade-goers, creating a kaleidoscope of color. Catching these “throws” is a beloved part of the experience. Dressing up is essential during Mardi Gras.
Many attendees wear masks and costumes, ranging from fancy ball attire to elaborate themed outfits. Each year, there is a theme for the celebrations, inspiring creative interpretations. Once again, I was really moving now…only to be asked, “Hey Koz, what is a Hurricane or what is Sazerac Cocktail…and when are we going to Pat O’Brien’s.”
Exhausted, I gave in and started the food and drink tour. We headed over to the famous Mothers restaurant for some of their famous Po Boys. Now, that was an experience in itself, as most of the fellows had no clue what a po-boy was. You can only imagine their reaction when they were asked if they wanted to have their sandwich dressed.
I had to remind the characters that the girl behind the counter meant the sandwich. Keep in mind, they were used to going into a New York Deli, fully clothed and asking for an Italian Hero. Never the less, I took the opportunity to continue the discussion and my history lesson while they were eating.
A famous part of Mardi Gras cuisine, a King Cake, is a delicious pastry typically shaped like a ring and adorned with purple, green, and gold sugar, with the colors representing “justice,” “faith,” and “power.”
Hidden inside the cake is a small figurine, representing the baby Jesus. The person who finds the figurine is responsible for hosting the next King Cake party. I was starting to get their attention a little bit more, as the discussion involved food.
I talked a little about Mobile, Alabama, explaining that many believed the city to be the original home of Mardi Gras in the U.S.
Thankfully, their interest was starting to peak as I told them they would be attending a real Mardi Gras Ball and would need to get a tuxedo for the occasion. Additionally, they would be riding in their first Mardi Gras parade. I went on telling them, according to Arthur Hardy, the premier authority on Mardi Gras in New Orleans, items have been tossed off floats since at least 1871.
In 1884, Rex, “The King of Carnival,” started using medallions instead of trinkets to throw off their floats. These medallions are represented by today’s doubloons: aluminum and anodized in many different colors.
I told them that there is a city ordinance in Orleans Parish that prohibits Mardi Gras from being commercialized. No corporate sponsorships are allowed on the floats. All the expenses are paid by the krewes and the riders.
In this case, their expenses would be paid by me. That also kept their attention. I also felt that it was important for them to know that in 1992, after much debate, the New Orleans City Council passed an ordinance that prohibited krewes from discriminating on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation or national origin.
There were some organizations that chose to stop parading rather than open up their ranks to all. This was surprising to some but also got their attention. I got asked about Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival in Brazil, particularly in Rio de Janeiro, is among the largest and most famous in the world.
One friend of mine wanted to know how it compares. Although it occurs earlier than traditional Mardi Gras, it shares many similarities, including extravagant parades featuring samba schools competing for the best performance. Rio’s Carnival is a sensory overload of music, dance, and colorful costumes.
It is a celebration of the Brazilian culture. In that way, it is similar. It was time to head back to the hotel and get ready for the big evening.
My group was to attend The Pegafest, better known as The Ball Masque of the Krewe of Pegasus, later that evening. The formal ball would take place at the Marriott Marquis in their main ballroom. It would be attended by 700 krewe and officer members, with their friends and families.
The men dressed looked sharp in their tuxedos, and the ladies stunning in their formal gowns. This indeed was quite the sight. It all seemed very impressive yet normal for the New York bunch, that is, until it was time to introduce the King, the Queen, and their Court. Led by their Captain, The Krewe of Pegasus came dancing out on the main floor. It was then time to parade the Court, led by the Maids who were accompanied by an Officer of the Krewe.
The spectacular Costumes, a seemingly endless array of satin, sequins, embossing, feathers, rhinestones, masks, headdresses, wigs, beading, and makeup was quite the spectacular. However, for those who have never experienced this, it can be quite eccentric.
I wasn’t quite sure how my little group would take to all the pomp and circumstance. Soon it came time to be introduced to the King and the Queen of Pegasus. Of course, I was interested to see the reaction as they feasted their eyes on this for the first time. I actually was surprised at the reaction. Not only were they paying attention, but they were listening to the commentary describing the theme of the evening.
Now it was me that needed the drink…lol.
As the evening continued, the Ball Masque section came to an end and the evening turned into a Dinner Dance. Watching my Broadway Blockbuster friends going to town on the dance floor with many of the Ladies of the Ball, was quite the sight. I need not tell you; a good time was had by all.
The next evening, the New York bunch would get their first taste of a ride in a Mardi Gras Parade, on a float, heading down the traditional New Orleans Parade Route. We had pre-loaded all their throws on the float, and explained as best as we could how they should throw the beads, cups and stuffed animals in their spots.
Some of the officers helped them get into their parade costumes and exchanged some words of wisdom regarding dos and don’ts on the float. As for my part, I was headed to Gallier Hall and to my regular duty as the MC of the Parades that evening. I need not tell you my concerns about how this would turn out.
I would soon find out, as the Pegasus Parade followed the Sparta Parade rolling toward Gallier Hall. My New York fellows were on the Grand Marshall Float heading toward the reviewing stand. As I looked at them approaching, all seemed quite normal.
In fact, they all had big smiles on their faces. Suddenly they started to throw it at the reviewing stand. Now normally, this would be a wonderful thing, but these first timers were throwing full bags of beads and stuffed animals.
As I continued the narration, while bobbing and weaving at the microphone, I started to laugh uncontrollably.
As the parade came to an end, it suddenly hit me…this amazing season and what it does to bring different cultures and people together. At the Pegasus after-parade party, I could see what was now my New York parade experts, sitting having a beer, with the old-timers telling stories, sharing the memories of past parades with their new friends.
Fast forward now, some 25 years, and as I stood watching the Bacchus Parade in New Orleans this past Sunday, and seeing Shaquille O’Neal as the King, I couldn’t wait to get on the phone and share the experience with a couple of my old New York Buddies who were made lifers by that Mardi Gras season some 25 years ago.
About two weeks ago, I said goodbye to one of the legends of the Mardi Gras Organizations, Phil Lundgren. Phil, who was the Captain of Zeus, and was the MC for many of the traditional Mardi Gras Balls in New Orleans for almost 50 years, had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease the last five years, and now God had decided it was time for Phil to come home.
His wife Maureen called me to tell me that one of Phil’s last wishes was for me to sing at his funeral service. On that day, in St. Catherine of Siena Church in Metairie, right after the Final Commendation and Farewell, I couldn’t help but think about my old friend and how he introduced me to the New Orleans Mardi Gras.
I am sure my brother Bobby along with Colonel Nick Smith (The Captain of Pegasus) was waiting for Phil, and they all had much better seats for this season than they ever had down here. Traditions, memories and relationships…that is what this New Yorker will forever hold to as the gift of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Season.
Peace My Brothers and Sisters…until next week.
