History of Mardi Gras & Lafayette’s Mardi Gras
celebrations. There are many theories concerning the origin of Mardi
Gras. However, it is generally accepted that the observance of Mardi
Gras (also known as Carnival) arises from the desire to have a good time
before fasting - to eat, drink and be merry - before beginning the
period of fasting during Lent.
The term “Carnival” is derived
from the phrase "carne vale", which translates to "farewell to flesh".
Fasting is an old custom and during the Middle Ages it was a very
serious matter. The consumption of meat, eggs and milk were forbidden
during Lent by both ecclesiastical and statute law. Even as late as
1560, laws were passed punishing butchers for slaughtering animals
during the Lenten season.
Throughout the eighteenth century, the
festival of carnival was celebrated across the world, Russia, Africa,
India, Persia, England, and throughout the European continent. During
this period, the carnival in France was encouraged and sponsored by the
French kings. The French Revolution ended the French celebration of
carnival. However, early in the nineteenth century the celebration was
reinstated by Napoleon with all of its’ former revelry. It is thought
that during this time, students from New Orleans, who were attending
school in Paris, witness these grand celebrations and brought the idea
the celebration of carnival back to New Orleans, and eventually to
Acadiana.
The first Mardi Gras celebrations in Acadiana were very
primitive. The women made costumes for their men to "Courir de Mardi
Gras” (literally translated “Fat Tuesday run”). On Mardi Gras day, these
masked men would go from farm to farm knocking on doors, singing songs,
dancing, and asking for chickens, rice, and whatever was necessary to
make a gumbo. The Captain led the group of maskers and there was much
merriment and clowning. They were usually followed by musicians in
wagons which also carried the hens and gumbo ingredients they had
collected along the way.
The culmination was when everyone
returned to their starting point and the women made a gumbo with the
ingredients. This unique celebration is still going on in the many rural
communities of Louisiana, including Mamou and Eunice. Large numbers of
tourists from all over the United States and the world come to “Cajun
Country” come to participate in the annual "Courir de Mardi Gras”
festivities.
The first recorded celebration of Mardi Gras in
Lafayette was on February 14, 1869 when according to the local newspaper
". . .Clement's band provided the music in the courthouse. . . ". But
the first city wide Mardi Gras observance was in 1897, when Manuel
Pellerin initiated the idea of a Mardi Gras King and Queen, a parade, a
pageant and a ball. He worked with H.A. Vandercruyssen, J.T. Allingham
and Maurice Patin, who designed, constructed, painted, and supervised
the chariots or carnival floats. It was that first Mardi Gras Ball and
Parade in 1897 that set the pattern for all future Lafayette Mardi Gras
celebrations. The first King was Judge George Armand "Bedon" (High Hat)
Martin, known as a “ . . .raconteur, dentist, planter, solon, and genial
gentlemen."
Judge Martin reigned as King Attakapas, and on March
2, 1897, he roared into Lafayette on a Southern Pacific locomotive that
had been transformed into his royal throne. All future Kings arrived in
Lafayette in the same grand manner until 1961, when Herbert Abdalla (the
22nd King Gabriel) used the train for the last time. Judge Martin's
Queen was Isure Mcdaniel, and the two royal figures and their royal
courts reigned in magnificent oriental robes. King Martin led five other
Royal chariots in a grand parade. Following the first Mardi Gras parade,
a Grand Ball was held in the Courthouse. The older residents of
Lafayette claim this was the finest ever seen.
It was not until
1926 that another city-wide Mardi Gras celebration was recorded. Court
Immaculta of the Catholic Daughters of America in¬augurated the first
children's carnival, the Krewe of Oberon, which still exists today. In
1927, the first Lafayette High School Carnival was held and the American
Legion held their first Mardi Gras parade. Louis A. Broussard made the
floats for this parade using over 40 yards of gold satin for the Royal
Chariot.
In 1933, planning for an annual city-wide celebration
was started by Stanley Martin, Post No. 69 of the American Legion in
Lafayette. In 1934, a city-wide carnival celebration became reality
under the leadership of Post members Gaston Hebert, Stanley Martin and
Laurent Comeaux, who joined with various civic leaders of Lafayette,
including Maurice Heymann and Paul Krauss. The group invited
representatives from all the civic organizations to a meeting where the
Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association was formed. Gaston
Hebert was elected President of the Association in 1934 and served as
such until 1940. Many credit Maurice Heymann as being the "father of
Lafayette's Mardi Gras" because he underwrote the group’s activities
many times until it and was on its financial feet.
During these
formative years local teacher Lucille Griffin started the Lafayette High
Carnival Ball and help to organize the traditions of Lafayette's Mardi
Gras. The first costumes were designed by another teacher at the High
School, Miss Inez Neyland. In those days, the floats were pulled by
mules and the night parades were lighted by men carrying burning
torches. Mardi Gras in Lafayette thrived from 1934 through 1941.
All festivities were suspended from 1942 through 1947 due to World War
II. In 1948, the celebration was revived and has been held continuously,
with the exception of 1951 (Korean Conflict).
In 1949 the Krewe
of Gabriel was formed to assist the Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras
Association. The Krewe was the idea of Dr. James Comeaux, who reigned as
King Gabriel in 1950, to serve as an “organization within an
organization" and to help Greater Southwest promote Mardi Gras on a
larger scale.
The first Commodore of the Krewe of Gabriel was
F.K. Dowty. Albert Miller was First Mate, John Edward Broussard, Second
Mate, Robbie Castille, Purser, H.J. Lagroue, Secretary. Directors
included Herbert Abdalla, Dr. James Comeaux, Henry Heymann, Frank Myers
and Dr. Edgar Breaux.
The City's Carnival rulers were officially
named King Gabriel and Queen Evangeline in 1934 upon a suggestion by
Miss Edith Garland Dupre. Those names symbolize the Acadian sweethearts
who were separated during their exile from Nova Scotia and were
immortalized in the Longfellow poem "Evangeline". George Gardiner of
Lafayette was the first King Gabriel and Mabel Broussard of Eunice was
the first Queen Evangeline.
In 1958, the Lafayette Mardi Gras
Association was created. Their monarchs are King Toussaint O'Overture
and Queen Simone Signoret. Unlike some other krewes, Lafayette Mardi
Gras' court and pageants are not limited to members of the Krewe. They
hold a grand parade on Mardi Gras day and are well known for outstanding
bands and elaborate floats in their parade.
Throughout the years
a number of private carnival krewes have been formed. They hold private
formal balls and select their own kings and queens. Most of the krewes
have elaborate floats and participate in one of Lafayette’s Mardi Gras
parades.
Key dates in the history of Lafayette’s Mardi Gras
celebration:
1869: First recorded Mardi Gras observance in
Lafayette
1896: First city-wide celebration
1897: King Attakapas
arrives in Lafayette on a Southern Pacific locomotive (tradition remains
through 1961)
1897: First parade and ball are held
1926: Krewe of
Oberon is formed and city-wide celebrations resume.
1927: First
Lafayette High School Carnival and first American Legion parade
1934:
Civic leaders form the Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras
Association to coordinate and promote annual Mardi Gras celebrations.
1934: King Gabriel and Queen Evangeline become the official names for
Lafayette’s Mardi Gras Royalty
1942: Mardi Gras celebrations
suspended during duration of WWII
1948: Annual Mardi Gras
celebrations return to Lafayette
1949: Krewe of Gabriel is formed to
assist Greater Southwest promote Lafayette’s Mardi Gras celebration.
1965: First Tuesday night parade honoring the Queen Evangeline
1970:
Tuesday night Queen’s parade moved to Monday night.
1986: Saturday
night parade added with the Krewe of Bonaparte.
1987: First parade
that physically ran through the Cajun Dome.
1990: Saturday afternoon
parade added with the “Children’s Parade”
1993: Parade route extended
to run through Cajun Field
1993: “Le Festival de Mardi Gras a
Lafayette”, a “family friendly” atmosphere with games, carnival rides,
Cajun food and live music was formed at Cajun Field
1998: Friday
night “Kick-Off Parade” added
2005: Parades expanded again with the
addition of the Krewe of Carnivale en Rio parade
The Greater
Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association’s role: