Algiers and
Algiers
Point (pr. nouns)
|
Algiers
is the section of the city directly opposite the French Quarter on the
Mississippi, on what is referred to locally as the Westbank.
Algiers Point is a jetty of land that marks the sharp turning point of
the Mississippi River, and also serves as the landing point for the
Canal Street ferryboat.
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anodize (verb,
adjective)
|
The
dipping process by which plain gray aluminum coins are
transformed into colourful, glittering doubloons. Different
colours have different costs; plain anodized doubloons cost twice
over the price of undipped doubloons. Red doubloons cost three
times more, and black anodized are the most expensive at four time s
the cost.
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Ash Wednesday
|
On
the Christian and the Druidic Lunar calendars, Ash Wednesday begins at
12:01 am the day following Mardi Gras, beginning an extended period of
fasting called Lent. On this day, all festivities cease, and the
faithful attend the Catholic churches to prepare for Lent. The
day gains its namesake from the mark the faithful bear which tell of
their faith: a cross of ashes on their brows.
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banquette (Fr.
noun)
|
During
the planning and construction of the Vieux Carre', the city was mapped
out into squares, with a short jetty being constructed between the
buildings and the streets. The French called this a banquette,
but to the rest of the North American continent, these would become
known as sidewalks.
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balcony (noun)
|
Reinforced
platforms which serve as extensions of an edifice, usually uncovered,
designed for the viewing of the city, pedestrians, and parades in the
French Quarter.
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baby (noun)
|
 Refers
to the king cake baby, a plastic infant that, when found by a reveler
in his slice, becomes obligated to provide the king cake for the next
party. The baby replaces the traditional golden bean first
utilized for a king cake by the Twelfth Night Revelers. In their
ceremonies, the young lady who found the golden bean was named queen.
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Ball
(noun)
|
also
known as bal masque or tableau ball,
refers to a masked gala in which scenes representing a specific theme
are enacted for the supporting krewe's entertainment. It is
also the traditional scenario for presenting the krewe royalty.
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bal
masque (Fr., noun)
|
French
phrase for "masked ball". See also ball, tableau.
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boeuf
gras (Fr., noun)
|
 From
the French tradition of "the fatted ox", an ancient Gallic symbol of
the last meat eaten before the onset of Lent. A living version of
the boeuf gras was presented
by Rex until 1909. The papier mache version we know today first
appeared in 1959, and remains one of the most identifyable images in
Carnival.
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captain
(noun)
|
 The
highest official and autocrat of the Carnival krewe, the Captain keeps
the krewe going, either financially, organizationally, supply-wise, or
in general krewe morale.
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carnival
(noun)
|
Comes
from the Latin carnivale,
which translates as "farewell to flesh," referring to the final
celebration before the sacrifices of the Lenten season begin. The
one constant of Carnival is its beginning, January 6th. In the
Christian calendar, this day is called Twelfth Night, Epiphany, or
King's Day. From Twelfth Night until Fat Tuesday is called
Carnivaltide or simply Carnival.
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cloisonne (noun)
"CLOY-sun-AY"
|
An
ancient and intricate process of ornamentation that bonds enamels to
metal to create a hard-shelled work of durable art. It is often
to be found in Carnival jewlery, favors, and specialty krewe doubloons.
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court
(noun)
|
The
king, queen, ladies, dukes, (or organizational equivalents of these
offices) within Carnival organizations.
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den
(noun)
|
Warehouse
space used by parading krewes to build and store their floats.
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doubloon
(noun)
|
 Aluminum
discs, like large coins, usually bearing the emblem of the organization
on one face, and the theme of their parade upon the other. The
first doubloons were designed and created for The School of Design by
New Orleans artist H. Alvin Sharpe in 1960. Doubloons are also
minted in .999 silver and are crafted in cloisonne.
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Duke (pr. noun)
|
A
title reserved for accomplished officers in a Carnival krewe.
Usually, the Dukes are paired with Maids in the processionals.
Individual krewes may have theme-equivalents to the office of Duke,
i.e. Choctaw's Papooses, or Zeus' lieutenants.
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favour
(noun)
|
A
souvenir of a krewe's ball, given to family members and friends who
were in attendance for the event. Usually will bear the
insignia of the organization and the year it was issued. At the
turn of the 20th century, favors reached their pinnacle of popularity,
and were often expensive trinkets, such as silver vanity hand mirrors,
ornate brooches or medals, silver salvers, even designer jewelry
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flambeaux
(Fr. noun, plural)
"FLAM-boh"
|
 Traditional
lighting-style for old-line parades in New Orleans. Fueled by
naptha (a flammable aromatic) and traditionally carried by black
men, some of whose families have proudly borne the flambeaux for 6
generations.
For over a century, the flambeaux were the only illumination for the
nightime parades.
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glitter (noun)
|
Name
given to miniscule bits of mylar, plastic, or nylon that, when
arranged, applied to skin, or thrown into the air, give sparkle and a
magical quality to whomever or whatever it touches.
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Grand Marshal (pr.
noun)
|
 Honorary
title given by many krewes to celebrities or civic leaders.
Superkrewes such as Bacchus, Endymion, and Caesar often feature
celebrity Grand Marshals for their parades (such as actor Dyan Cannon,
who once served as Grand Marshall for Endymion).
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invitation
(noun)
|
 An
often-ornately printed request for one's appearance at a Carnival
ball. Invitations are very personal, and cannot be exchanged like
"tickets".
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King (pr. noun)
|
Generic
name given to male rulers of Carnival organizations. Individual
organizations may have specific names for their rulers in this
category, such as Babylon's Sargon, Krewe d'Etat's Dictator, or Oshun's
Shango.
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king
cake (noun)
|
 Refers
to the rounded pastry coloured with purple, green, and gold
sugars. Inside the pastry is hidden a plastic baby.
Tradition dictates that whomever gets the king cake baby is obliged to
provide the king cake for the next Carnival party they attend.
The Twelfth Night Revelers began the tradition of choosing a queen by
hiding a golden bean inside their king cakes. The young lady who
received the bean was made the queen.
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krewe
(noun)
|
An
archaic English spelling adopted by the Mistick Krewe of Comus in 1857,
and now the generic term for all Carnival organizations.
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ladder (noun)
|
parade
necessity consisting of a small seat built atop a standard stepladder
to give children greater access to throws. Ladders must be set
back at least 1 1/2 ladder lengths from the parade route, and can
only be used by children under 100 lbs.
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Lundi
Gras (pr. noun)
|
French
for Fat Monday, Lundi Gras originally marked the arrival of Rex at the
riverfront from 1874 to 1917. This tradition was revived in 1987,
and included the king of Zulu at the Riverfront. In 2004, Zulu
also traveled to Kenner to pay Carnival greetings to the royalty of the
Krewe of Argus.
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Mardi
Gras (pr. noun)
|
French
for Fat Tuesday. This day also known as Shrove Tuesday, and is
celebrated throughout the Christian world as the culmination of
Carnivaltide before the beginning of the sacrifices of the Lenten
season and the release of Easter. For the rest of the world, it
is the last great celebration before the onset of spring. Mardi
Gras is traditionally over after the meeting of the courts of Comus and
Rex, and officially over at midnight. At 12:01 am, Ash Wednesday
and the first day of Lent commence, and all revelry must be put aside
for another year.
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Mardi
Gras Indians
(pr. noun)
|
 Originally
created in the 19th century by black men who wished to pay homage
to the American Indian tribes that had harboured their ancestors who
escaped from slavery. Early on, there were violent rivalries
between the tribes, but now the Mardi Gras Indians are a fixture at
Carnival, best known for their incredibly detailed and intricately
beaded-and-feathered costumes. Legendary krewes include the Wild
Tchoupitoulas, the Creole Wild West, and the Yellow Pocahontas.
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Queen (pr. noun)
|
Generic
name given to female rulers of Carnival organizations. Individual
organizations may have specific titles for their royalty in this
category, such as Aladdin's Princess Jasmine, Napoleon's Josephine, or
Choctaw's Princess.
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sequin (noun)
|
From
the
French word for "spangle", sequin refers to the small plastic or nylon
discs that are infused with colours and mylar to give off a spectacular
jewel-like shine. Used for costumes, headpieces, float decor,
just about everything!
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tableau (Fr. noun)
|
 French
for "tables", at Mardi Gras in New Orleans it refers specifically
to still-life scenes creating or recreating episodes in history
or literature.
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The
native customs of Orleanians run the gamut from genteel gatherings to
parade partiers, from family outings to solo endeavours. Some
natives devote their entire Carnival season to catching parades, while
others begin working on a new costume on Ash Wednesday. Still
other natives and residents actively eschew the celebrations
altogether, fleeing yearly to less colourful corners of the
globe. From the
lurid adventures of Rue Bourbon to the wholesome joys of Jefferson and
St. Bernard parishes, what you do at Mardi Gras is just as important as
"who's your mama" and "where did you go to school?"