Mobile is gearing up for its 315th Mardi Gras celebration, and began with the Krewe de la Dauphine parade on Jan. 13. On Fat Tuesday, it will come to an end with several parades ranging from the Order of Athena to the Order of Myths. "America's Family Mardi Gras," as Mobile is known, is also the birthplace of Mardi Gras, and Mobilians never let anyone forget.
This year, thousands of people will participate in the flamboyant and animated festivities of Mardi Gras. The long standing tradition has multiple origins dating as far back as to the early medieval carnivals of the 1500s. Though the French are thought to have been responsible for bringing it to the “New World,” the Spanish also influenced the vibrant culture. According to Cartledge Blackwell III, Curator of the Mobile Carnival Museum, “Mardi Gras was first celebrated at the Fort at Colonial Mobile, which is 27 miles up the Mobile River from the present day settlement. The first recorded processions and events date not from the French epic, but from the Spanish period with the Spanish Mystic Society in the 1790s.”
The holiday itself typically starts in early February, continuing until before Lent, and closing on Fat Tuesday. Mardi Gras is not just "one big party" though, it is also an industry. Blackwell mentioned, "Just last year it generated over $227 million for Alabama’s tourism economy."
To some, Mardi Gras is a time of overindulgence as one prepares for the purging of Lent. Blackwell recalls, “It symbolizes a huge cultural phenomenon that ties people and families together by having a good time and promoting a strong rivalry before the Lenten season.” The season represents more than the parties and parades, it represents a close-knit community for those who come out and support their peers. Ellie Seiter, president of the Student Government Association at Spring Hill College, stated, “As SGA president, I would love to see more students down here going to parades and brining that same vibrant culture back to campus. I want everyone to see how great Mardi Gras is and fully embrace what the [holiday] has to offer.”
What makes Mardi Gras in Mobile so unique is that it is a family-oriented tradition that focuses on fun for all ages. Mary Kay Rasp, member of The Order of KHAOS and mother to SHC junior Katy Rasp, recalls the overwhelming feeling and excitement of being a part of Mobile Mardi Gras. She stated, “I have been a member of The Order of KHAOS for about 10 years and we parade on Joe Cain Day which is also called the people’s parade. Being a part of this Mardi Gras tradition is an absolute blast! There is no better feeling than when you are riding high above the crowd, cruising through the downtown streets and throwing beads, MoonPies and stuffed animals to thousands of people screaming at you! It just doesn’t get any better than that!” This inclusive community of Mobile makes it possible for everyone to celebrate and feel closer to the holiday.