Everyone knows about Mardi Gras — weeks full of jester-like outfits, enormous parades, and jeweled masks on just about everyone present. But not everybody knows that it started in Mobile, Alabama, the same place where one of Southeast Toyota Finance’s (SETF) Customer Care Centers is located.
Mardi Gras, otherwise known as Carnival, is an essential part of the year for many of our Mobile associates. For example, Tom, Dialer Systems Administrator for SETF, has celebrated Mardi Gras his entire life. His family and friends meet at large and small gatherings, eating red beans and rice, grits topped with grillades (pronounced “GREE-yahds”: slow-braised slices of beef in a Creole sauce piquant), and traditional King Cakes. The cake has a small plastic baby inside, and the person who receives the slice with the baby has to host the next party and bring the King Cake.
Mardi Gras, otherwise known as Carnival, is an essential part of the year for many of our Mobile associates. For example, Tom, Dialer Systems Administrator for SETF, has celebrated Mardi Gras his entire life. His family and friends meet at large and small gatherings, eating red beans and rice, grits topped with grillades (pronounced “GREE-yahds”: slow-braised slices of beef in a Creole sauce piquant), and traditional King Cakes. The cake has a small plastic baby inside, and the person who receives the slice with the baby has to host the next party and bring the King Cake.
Tom (far right), one of our associates in Mobile, has celebrated Mardi Gras with family and friends his entire life.
“For us, Mardi Gras means camaraderie, joy, tradition, fellowship and celebration; it truly is part of Mobile’s DNA,” he wrote.
Some of our associates even participate in the parties and parades, like our associate, Mary, Senior Business Analyst. As a member of the Maids of Mirth (one of Mobile’s first two women’s parading groups), Mary has been riding in the society’s parade for more than 15 years. This year, you can see the group’s parade on February 19.
She tells us, “It is so much fun to throw to the crowds! Everything is bright, colorful, and full of laughter and music. Most organizations have elaborate balls after the parade – they are a great place to dance, visit with friends and meet new people; and you get to dress up and wear hats!”
Like Tom, Mary is quick to point out that Mardi Gras is a long-standing tradition with loved ones: “Mardi Gras is a family affair – I remember going to parades with my parents as a very little girl and we have been taking my boys to parades since they were babies (they are now in their 20s)! My father rode in a parade on Mardi Gras day and I will always remember him throwing special treats to me. The riders throw beads, stuffed animals, plastic trinkets, Moon Pies, and sometimes even sausage!”
“Mardi Gras is all about celebrating and having fun with everyone around you. You share the merriment and frivolity with people from all walks of life.”
This year, we’d like to spread that joy with you by sharing different places to celebrate the holiday in the Southeast. But first, let’s look into how Mardi Gras began in the first place.
But the holiday wasn’t one that the French made up on a whim. Mardi Gras was a Christian celebration they imported from Europe, where it had gone through many transformations throughout thousands of years. Starting with spring and fertility celebrations from pagan religions, Mardi Gras eventually became connected to Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and prayer that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends around Easter.
Some of our associates even participate in the parties and parades, like our associate, Mary, Senior Business Analyst. As a member of the Maids of Mirth (one of Mobile’s first two women’s parading groups), Mary has been riding in the society’s parade for more than 15 years. This year, you can see the group’s parade on February 19.
She tells us, “It is so much fun to throw to the crowds! Everything is bright, colorful, and full of laughter and music. Most organizations have elaborate balls after the parade – they are a great place to dance, visit with friends and meet new people; and you get to dress up and wear hats!”
Like Tom, Mary is quick to point out that Mardi Gras is a long-standing tradition with loved ones: “Mardi Gras is a family affair – I remember going to parades with my parents as a very little girl and we have been taking my boys to parades since they were babies (they are now in their 20s)! My father rode in a parade on Mardi Gras day and I will always remember him throwing special treats to me. The riders throw beads, stuffed animals, plastic trinkets, Moon Pies, and sometimes even sausage!”
“Mardi Gras is all about celebrating and having fun with everyone around you. You share the merriment and frivolity with people from all walks of life.”
This year, we’d like to spread that joy with you by sharing different places to celebrate the holiday in the Southeast. But first, let’s look into how Mardi Gras began in the first place.
The history of Mardi Gras
Just like it may surprise some that American Mardi Gras started in Mobile, it may also shock you to learn that it's older than the U.S. In 1703, French settlers in Mobile’s first settlement, Twenty-Seven Mile Bluff, celebrated the first recorded Mardi Gras celebration in North America.But the holiday wasn’t one that the French made up on a whim. Mardi Gras was a Christian celebration they imported from Europe, where it had gone through many transformations throughout thousands of years. Starting with spring and fertility celebrations from pagan religions, Mardi Gras eventually became connected to Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and prayer that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends around Easter.
The Infant Mystics Society has been parading since the second year of Mardi Gras in Mobile.
“Mardi Gras” is French for “Fat Tuesday,” fitting for a celebration where people eat as much as possible before starting to fast the next day. That’s why Mardi Gras is technically the last day of Carnival, the two-week celebration leading up to Ash Wednesday. The two terms are part of the same holiday and are often used interchangeably.
After its French introduction, Mardi Gras flourished for over a century in the South. But the Civil War stopped the celebrations for four years. It was only brought back in Mobile when citizen Joe Cain decided to take action. He dressed up as the fictional undefeated Chickasaw Chief "Old Slacabamorinico" and led a group of men he dubbed the "Lost Cause Minstrels" in a procession down the city streets in 1866. Modern-day Mobile citizens celebrate this rebirth through Joe Cain Day, held every Sunday before Mardi Gras.
After its French introduction, Mardi Gras flourished for over a century in the South. But the Civil War stopped the celebrations for four years. It was only brought back in Mobile when citizen Joe Cain decided to take action. He dressed up as the fictional undefeated Chickasaw Chief "Old Slacabamorinico" and led a group of men he dubbed the "Lost Cause Minstrels" in a procession down the city streets in 1866. Modern-day Mobile citizens celebrate this rebirth through Joe Cain Day, held every Sunday before Mardi Gras.
The Excelsior Band, a Mobile favorite for over 100 years, parades on Joe Cain Day, 2020.
Mardi Gras isn’t one big celebration, however — it’s a series of separate celebrations, each held by different “societies” or “krewes.” Each society, some of them now well over 100 years old, has its own traditions. Some have even passed down relics, like masks or hats, that performers still use every year. These societies were restricted to the white upper class at first, but other groups began forming their own societies, like the Jewish Continental Mystic Crew in 1890 and the Black Order of Doves in 1894.
Mardi Gras certainly has a storied history, defined by its many groups and the communities where those groups lived. Although Mobile is its American birthplace, it’s far from the only place you can celebrate. Here’s a list of Mardi Gras events to have fun at in each of our five Southeastern states this year.
Mardi Gras certainly has a storied history, defined by its many groups and the communities where those groups lived. Although Mobile is its American birthplace, it’s far from the only place you can celebrate. Here’s a list of Mardi Gras events to have fun at in each of our five Southeastern states this year.
A float by the Mystic Stripers Society, Mobile Mardi Gras 2020.
Mobile, Alabama
Of course, we have to begin with the place that started it all — Mobile, Alabama. Although Mardi Gras is known for being somewhat bawdy, Mobile keeps its celebrations largely family-friendly. Kids and adults alike can enjoy the parades, where extravagantly dressed performers throw plastic beads and Moon Pies to the crowd.Mobile will be home to dozens of parades and celebrations this year, all culminating on Fat Tuesday. Starting in late January, the events span all throughout February and end on March 1. The Order of Myths, Mobile’s oldest parading society, has the honor of hosting the last parade on Fat Tuesday itself. This procession runs right through the heart of the city and will undoubtedly include the society’s enduring symbol — a float pulled by mules with a broken column in the middle. This is the stage where a member dressed as Death is chased and eventually overcome by a member dressed as Folly.
The emblem float of the Order of Myths, the oldest parading society in Mobile, depicts Folly chasing Death, 2020.
How does Folly defeat Death? Through inflated pig bladders painted gold and attached to a broomstick. It’s a medieval touch, but tradition nonetheless.
Pensacola’s Mardi Gras also kicks off celebrations in January, with more than a dozen parades and balls hosted by several different krewes before Fat Tuesday. Some are even community-focused: like the Annual Humanitarian Food Drive Challenge, accepting donations through February 12. People are invited to donate nonperishable goods on behalf of a krewe, at many drop-off locations around the city. All donations will benefit Pensacola’s Manna Food Pantries and the groups with the most pounds donated will claim a trophy at the weigh-in party on February 20.
Capping off the celebrations is Fat Tuesday itself, with a Lighted Hat Contest at the Sandshaker and a Shoe Box Float Contest at Paradise Bar and Grill. Click here to check out all the events that Pensacola has to offer.
Pensacola, Florida
Although largely governed by the Spanish in its history, Pensacola has some French origins, too — and that’s why it has celebrated Mardi Gras since 1874.Pensacola’s Mardi Gras also kicks off celebrations in January, with more than a dozen parades and balls hosted by several different krewes before Fat Tuesday. Some are even community-focused: like the Annual Humanitarian Food Drive Challenge, accepting donations through February 12. People are invited to donate nonperishable goods on behalf of a krewe, at many drop-off locations around the city. All donations will benefit Pensacola’s Manna Food Pantries and the groups with the most pounds donated will claim a trophy at the weigh-in party on February 20.
Capping off the celebrations is Fat Tuesday itself, with a Lighted Hat Contest at the Sandshaker and a Shoe Box Float Contest at Paradise Bar and Grill. Click here to check out all the events that Pensacola has to offer.
“Mardi Gras is a wonderful holiday with deep roots in the South.”
Kingsland, Georgia
Just above the Georgia-Florida border sits Kingsland, a small community with a cozy historic downtown. But it’s also one of the best places to celebrate Mardi Gras, especially if you’re looking for something free and family-friendly.For the past 28 years, Kingsland has hosted the K-BAY Mardi Gras Festival, a two-day event where tens of thousands of people congregate to have fun. This year’s event will feature a parade and car show alongside concerts from artists like country music star Clay Walker. In their downtime, visitors can enjoy local artisan shopping, food vendors, and a Kids Zone.
This year’s festival is on Feb. 25 and 26, the weekend before Fat Tuesday. And while you’re there, you may also enjoy exploring Kingsland’s historic Royal District, or the nature-filled Okefenokee Trail.
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville has long been known for its creative side, hosting more than 200 artists in its River Art District — and that spirit lives on in its annual Mardi Gras celebration.Like Mobile and Pensacola, Asheville hosts multiple events during the Carnival season. It started with a 12th Night Dance Party and Celebration on Jan. 6, where visitors feasted on King Cake and crowned the King and Queen of the Mardi Gras season. But the festivities aren’t over quite yet. Those royalty will soon lead the Feb. 27 parade, dubbed "The Great Comeback Carnival" after last year's Mardi Gras celebrations were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Asheville’s Mardi Gras celebrations include an annual parade downtown. (Image credit: anoldent, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Right after the parade comes the Queen’s Ball, where the royalty will appear once again — and that’s not even mentioning the Cajun Cookoff and Voodoo Like We Do food and music events. But while appropriately zany, some events will be alcohol-free, making them suitable for a wider audience.
On Feb. 12, downtown Aiken will come alive for its fourth annual Mardi Gras celebration. Soda City Brass Band is scheduled to lead extravagantly dressed people on foot in a lively Second Line parade, trailing through the streets. Later, guests will enjoy more live music from the band while sipping on smooth Abita beer and chowing down on Creole cuisine.
Best of all, the event is free! If you’d like to join, be at Newberry Street at 5 p.m.
And as they say, “Laissez les bons temps rouler” (Cajun French for “Let the good times roll”)!
Aiken, South Carolina
Full of lush trees and old brick buildings, Aiken is a cozy town usually known for its thoroughbred horses. But that doesn’t mean it can’t throw a good party.On Feb. 12, downtown Aiken will come alive for its fourth annual Mardi Gras celebration. Soda City Brass Band is scheduled to lead extravagantly dressed people on foot in a lively Second Line parade, trailing through the streets. Later, guests will enjoy more live music from the band while sipping on smooth Abita beer and chowing down on Creole cuisine.
Best of all, the event is free! If you’d like to join, be at Newberry Street at 5 p.m.
Are you ready for beads and masks?
Mardi Gras is a wonderful holiday with deep roots in the South. A flexible event, it can work for the whole family or for a night on the town with a group of friends. If you’ve never celebrated before, maybe 2022 can be your inaugural year.And as they say, “Laissez les bons temps rouler” (Cajun French for “Let the good times roll”)!