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Mardi Gras celebration in Houma, Louisiana

Nuovo appuntamento con la rubrica di James Weaver. Il famoso giornalista americano ci porta a Houna, in Louisiana, per scoprire le tradizioni del Martedì Grasso a Stelle e Strisce.

I’ve always thought of New Orleans as the exclusive home to Mardi Gras, and while it has the largest and best known event in the U.S. its by no means the only one. Mardi Gras celebrations are held throughout much of the Mississippi Delta region in Lousiana. Actually, it is now celebrated in various forms at locations as far away as Colorado.

It was in Houma, LA, where I experienced Mardi Gras (Louisiana’s second largest) up close and personal. This city of 90,000 is located just a 57 mile drive west of New Orleans in the heart of the Delta. Only 11 feet above sea level the area is regularly threatened by harricanes and flooding.

Mardi Gras’ history may be evolved from the ancient tribal rituals of fertility that welcomed the arrival of Spring and a circus-like orgy held in mid-February in Rome. The early Church, recognized it was impossible to divorce new converts from their pagan customs and decided instead to direct them into Christian channels. The celebration of “Carnival” became a period of merriment that served as a prelude to the season of Lent. Even today, the event has ties to the Catholic Church in many communities.

The parades held during the two weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday are the most public aspect of Mardi Gras, but there is considerable activity going on year-round by members of the various “Crewes” or clubs that make up Marti Gras. There are 12 crewes in Houma each composed of hundreds of members. There are men’s crewes, women’s crewes, and those with both men and women members. The crewes are “secret societies” much as fraternal organizations and serve an important social function in the community.

In Houma, and throughout the region, family is of considerable importance and sons and daughters grow up with “Mardi Gras in their blood.” There is a Mardi Gras king and queen, much like the high school or college homecoming king and queen. The queen and her court are daughters of crewe members while the king is one of the fathers. They parade on their own “royal” float and are given accolades in keeping with their esteemed positions. A big part of Mardi Gras is the private gala ball held after the parade. This is a formal or fancy costume dinner dance for member of the crewes and their families. Participating in Mardi Gras does not come cheap. A crewe member may spend $2,500 a year or more.

The parade floats, many the size of large trailer trucks, are colorfully decorated in keeping with a chosen theme. Floats can accommodate from a dozen to 30 riders (crewe members) dressed in costumes and masks (ostensibly to hide their identity). As the floats travel along the parade route, riders toss colorful beads (necklaces) and other goodies to the crowd. The millions of beads thrown along the five mile parade route is difficult to comprehend. One crewe member told me they are sustaining the Chinese national economy through the purchase of “Made in China” beads.

Houma and the Missisippi Delta has a great deal more to offer than simply Mardi Gras. There’s exciting Cajun music and dancing, outstanding Cajun food, great sport fishing, and much more. New Orleans is only an hour away (for a day trip) and everything is less expensive here.

Learn more at www.houmatravel.com.

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