Mardi Gras: Difference between revisions
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'''Mardi Gras''' (Fat Tuesday) is a French celebration preceding Lent in the Christian calendar. [[Birmingham]] staged a Mardi Gras celebration sporadically in the late 19th century. The first parade, on [[March 8]], [[1886]], was sponsored by the [[German Society]], and included 30 floats, vehicles from the [[Birmingham Police Department|Police]] and [[Birmingham Fire Department|Fire]] departments, and a brass band. The "King of Beer" rode the first float, toasting the | '''Mardi Gras''' (Fat Tuesday) is a French celebration preceding Lent in the Christian calendar. [[Birmingham]] staged a Mardi Gras celebration sporadically in the late 19th century. The first parade, on [[March 8]], [[1886]], was sponsored by the [[German Society]], and included 30 floats, vehicles from the [[Birmingham Police Department|Police]] and [[Birmingham Fire Department|Fire]] departments, and a brass band. The "King of Beer" rode the first float, toasting the crowd from his velvet throne. The evening's festivities included a masqued ball. | ||
The next parade was staged 10 years later after [[Emil Lasser]], owner of the [[Cosmopolitan Hotel]] joined with others to form the "Birmingham Carnival Society". An ice storm dampened the procession of Rex Vulcan I and his queen, but 30,000 to 40,000 people still made their way downtown to view the parade. Some of the many floats, which depicted folklore and historical subjects, were constructed in Mobile. The [[Birmingham Athletic Club]] showed "Samson Destroying the Temple" while [[Schillinger Brewing Company]] sponsored "Washington Crossing the Delaware." The 1897 and 1898 Mardi Gras celebrations kept the young tradition alive, but a February blizzard in [[1899]] put the city under a foot of snow. With temperatures as low as -9°, organizers decided to cancel the festivities before Rex Vulcan IV could take up his sceptre. There was a final evening parade in 1900, along with a ball hosted by the Krewe of Proteus and two at the [[French Opera House]] presented by the Mystic Krewes of Comus and Momus. In 1901 the Carnival Society staged a last ball before ceasing operations. | The next parade was staged 10 years later after [[Emil Lasser]], owner of the [[Cosmopolitan Hotel]] joined with others to form the "Birmingham Carnival Society". An ice storm dampened the procession of Rex Vulcan I and his queen, but 30,000 to 40,000 people still made their way downtown to view the parade. Some of the many floats, which depicted folklore and historical subjects, were constructed in Mobile. The [[Birmingham Athletic Club]] showed "Samson Destroying the Temple" while [[Schillinger Brewing Company]] sponsored "Washington Crossing the Delaware." The 1897 and 1898 Mardi Gras celebrations kept the young tradition alive, but a February blizzard in [[1899]] put the city under a foot of snow. With temperatures as low as -9°, organizers decided to cancel the festivities before Rex Vulcan IV could take up his sceptre. There was a final evening parade in 1900, along with a ball hosted by the Krewe of Proteus and two at the [[French Opera House]] presented by the Mystic Krewes of Comus and Momus. In 1901 the Carnival Society staged a last ball before ceasing operations. | ||
Revision as of 17:32, 13 April 2006
Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is a French celebration preceding Lent in the Christian calendar. Birmingham staged a Mardi Gras celebration sporadically in the late 19th century. The first parade, on March 8, 1886, was sponsored by the German Society, and included 30 floats, vehicles from the Police and Fire departments, and a brass band. The "King of Beer" rode the first float, toasting the crowd from his velvet throne. The evening's festivities included a masqued ball.
The next parade was staged 10 years later after Emil Lasser, owner of the Cosmopolitan Hotel joined with others to form the "Birmingham Carnival Society". An ice storm dampened the procession of Rex Vulcan I and his queen, but 30,000 to 40,000 people still made their way downtown to view the parade. Some of the many floats, which depicted folklore and historical subjects, were constructed in Mobile. The Birmingham Athletic Club showed "Samson Destroying the Temple" while Schillinger Brewing Company sponsored "Washington Crossing the Delaware." The 1897 and 1898 Mardi Gras celebrations kept the young tradition alive, but a February blizzard in 1899 put the city under a foot of snow. With temperatures as low as -9°, organizers decided to cancel the festivities before Rex Vulcan IV could take up his sceptre. There was a final evening parade in 1900, along with a ball hosted by the Krewe of Proteus and two at the French Opera House presented by the Mystic Krewes of Comus and Momus. In 1901 the Carnival Society staged a last ball before ceasing operations.
Various groups still use Mardi Gras as the time and theme for their social gatherings and fund-raisers, but no official parading organization has taken to the streets since the turn of the century.
Current celebrations
Notable annual Mardi Gras events in the Birmingham area include:
- The Mystic Krewe of Apollo holds an annual Bal Masque at Boutwell Auditorium (February 3, 2007)
- The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute holds an annual Mardi Gras fundraiser (February 27, 2007)
References
- Baggett, James L. "Birmingham's Ill-Fated Mardi Gras." (Birmingham Timepiece Series) Birmingham Magazine. [1] - accessed April 13, 2006