Page 31 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2023

Then, in 1951 for the Korean War. The last cancellation in the 20th century was in 1979 when the New Orleans Police Department went on strike.
Most recently, Mardi Gras was cancelled in 2021 on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of course, while parades and official events may have been cancelled, we all know that the spirit of Mardi Gras can never truly be cancelled!
Why Purple, Green, and Gold?
It’s hard to imagine a Mardi Gras without seeing purple, green, and gold everywhere. Legend has it that the colors were selected by Rex in 1872 to honor Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia. Others say it was simply rules of heraldry, where you need both metals and colors in a royal symbol. But why three? Possibly because of the popularity of tricolor flags. It’s said that purple represents justice, green represents faith, and gold represents power.
Many countries across the globe celebrate the carnival season with floats, parades, and masquerades, much like the Mardi Gras we all know and love. Of course, everywhere adds a bit of local flair to make it special, and each celebration has its own unique history. Now, you’ll
be able to go into this Mardi Gras season with some fun facts to share while you wait at parade routes.
TOP: Mistick-Krewe-of-Comus artwork appeared in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper on April 6, 1867.
ABOVE: 1946 Kings Parade in Mobile, Alabama. The parades during the 1946 Mardi Gras were the first to take place along the Gulf Coast since 1941. For four years, from 1942-1945, Mardi Gras events were canceled due to World War II.
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