Page 30 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2023

LEISURE
the history
of
possible that in 1699 the explorers Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville landed near in what is now known as New Orleans and held a small celebration in honor of Mardi Gras.
If you ask someone from Alabama, however, they may say that the first Mardi Gras was celebrated by French settlers
in Mobile in 1703. At that point in time, New Orleans did not exist yet – the city was not founded until 1718. No matter when or where the first celebration of Mardi Gras happened, chances are Mobile at least celebrated the holiday before New Orleans did.
Cancelled Mardi Gras of the Past
Since the first New Orleans Mardi Gras parade in 1857, the festivities have been called off 15 times. From 1862-1865, it was cancelled due to the Civil War. In 1875, the existing krewes decided not to roll because of civil unrest and violence. A few years later in 1879, Mardi Gras was cancelled because of the city and state’s inability to properly respond to the yellow fever epidemic.
The celebrations were able to keep on rolling for 39 years straight, until 1918 when it was cancelled due to the involvement of the United States in World War I. The next year, 1919, the Spanish flue pandemic caused the cancellation.
The good times weren’t stopped again until 1942-1945 for World War II.
story by
Victoria Snyder
Chances are, we all know the basics of
a New Orleans Mardi Gras – the season is a chance to celebrate the lavish things in life before the fasting and penance of the Lenten season. But did you know it’s only been cancelled 15 times in its 160+ year history? And that while Mardi Gras may be best known for being celebrated in New Orleans, the first American Mardi
Gras may not have been held there? Or the legend of how purple, green, and gold came to be so closely associated with the celebration?
The First Mardi Gras
While the exact year and location of the first celebration is not known for sure, it’s
30 | February 2023 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living