Some Historic Tidbits about Mardi Gras in New Orleans!

The celebration of Mardi Gras was started in Louisiana by early French settlers. Although the exact date of the first carnival in New Orleans isn't known, but there are records of Carnival balls starting as early as 1743. Street processions and wearing of masks were generally prohibited by law, but most people ignored such laws because enforcement was relatively lax. However, in 1833 a rich French plantation owner named Bernard Xavier de Marigny de Mandeville raised money to fund an official Mardi Gras celebration. The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold (symbolizing justice, faith, and power, respectively). These colors are said to have been chosen by Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff of Russia during a visit to New Orleans. Parades were initially held in the small, narrow streets of the French Quarter, but after 1972, due to larger crowds, floats, and safety concerns, the parades were moved to outside the French Quarter. 

The oldest active Mardi Gras organization, Mystic Krewe of Comus, held its first parade in 1857. In 1875, the state of Louisiana declared Mardi Gras an official holiday. Historically, the Mardi Gras krewes were discriminatory and only let people with money or power be included. In 1991 the New Orleans City Council passed an ordinance that required social organizations, ie: Mardi Gras Krewes, to certify publicly that they did not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation, to obtain parade permits and other public licenses. There was a lot of discontent with this ordinance among certain older krewes, and a case regarding this issue was even proposed to the US Supreme Court (however, the case was dismissed). Today, most krewes operate under a business structure, and membership is basically open to anyone who pays dues. Any member can have a place on a parade float. The older krewes kept up the exclusivity by hosting lavish balls and debutantes.