Friends:

Mardi Gras Season begins on the Twelfth Night of Christmas every year, January 6. I had the privilege and honor of being a guest at a Mardi Gras ball! I was invited by my illustrator (of Mama’s Bayou) and dear friend, Holly Stone-Barker. It was my first Mardi Gras ball and I had a ball!

The ball was held at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner, Louisiana. The Krewe of Excalibur rolls in Metairie on Friday, February 5, 2010. My husband, Antonio, and I were seated at the “Nemo” table. Holly’s mom, Diane, was a maid representing the Disney movie, Finding Nemo. Our table was loaded with favors and tons of gifts!

The pomp and circumstance began with a parade of breathtaking costumes, along with a history of the Krew of Excalibur, which is in its 9th year. The 2010 theme is “Knight-Time Stories” and the costumes represented favorite children’s stories that were also movies. There was “Dr. Seuss.”

Here is “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

My friend, Holly, was a maid representing “Mary Poppins.”

“The Jungle Book” brought back childhood memories. I was in the play in elementary school, only my costume wasn’t as cool!

Then there was Holly’s mom, Diane Stone, who was a stunning “Nemo.”

I felt like skipping down a yellow brick road for this one…

The glorious parade culminated in the presentation of the King and the Queen. Presenting… King Excalibur IX!

The King was followed by the breathtaking Queen Excalibur IX. She was absolutely gorgeous in satin and sequins. She was elegant and graceful, and radiated joy.

The costumes were so grandiose and awe-inspiring. I was told that they were made by D&D Designs. Every new costume just took my breath away.

What I love about Mardi Gras is how rich in history it is. Many visitors to New Orleans don’t realize how much tradition is behind Mardi Gras’ culture. It’s not just about beads and throws and parades. It’s about family and honor.

After the presentation of the court, dinner was served buffet style. Then it was time to dance! Vince Vance and the Valiants were the “Knight-Time” entertainment. Antonio and I shook, shook, shook our booties. Thank goodness I brought my Footzy Rolls, roll-up flat shoes made just for occasions like these. My ankle is still weak from my sprain two months ago. I chucked the high heels and felt fine in flats!

Holly has some sweet friends and family. I met her in-laws, who came in all the way from North Carolina!

Holly’s friend, Kathy, is a hoot. Just look at this vivacious woman!

Holly’s sister, Heather, sang with Vince Vance. LOL

Speaking of Vince Vance, I met him a couple of years ago. He came out into the audience and recognized me. I couldn’t believe he remembered me! He announced my name over the P.A. as “The Famous Storyteller Dianne de Las Casas” and had me join his girls on stage, singing “Love Shack.” Being on stage is no new place for me… LOL It was fun!

It was a grand evening and we partied until 2:30am! What a great way to continue celebrating my birthday! I really enjoyed meeting Toni, Holly’s friend. Toni had never met me and gave me the most gorgeous gifts! Her son, Nick, was a junior knight, like Holly’s son, Stephen. Toni, thank you! You are so sweet!

Holly, thank you so much for inviting me and Antonio to the Excalibur Mardi Gras ball! I absolutely loved every minute of it. I had a ton of fun! See the grateful grin on my face?!

Happy Mardi Gras Season! Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Friends:

Today was Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, in New Orleans. My family and I headed downtown around 11am with our friend, Willie, to catch Rex. We were going to our Grandstand spot on St. Charles and Poydras. We were not expecting to catch Zulu! It was an awesome surprise to see most of the Zulu floats. The parade, lucky for us, was running behind.

We dressed up as a family of pirates. Ahoy there, matey! Arrrgh!

Our friend, Willie, was dressed as a king. All Hail King Willie!

Zulu was named after the fiercest of the African tribes. What began as a spoof of the Rex parade has become a highly anticipated New Orleans tradition.

Zulu’s theme was “Celebrating 100 Years as a New Orleans Tradition.” The parade had 35 floats and has1,200 male and female riders.

All the Zulu riders wear black and white face, regardless of their race. They throw a number of goodies including medallions and spears but the most highly sought after throw in all of carnival is the Zulu coconut. Each coconut is hand-painted and decorated by the Zulu krewe members. Mardi Gras revelers go crazy over Zulu coconuts. To receive the prized treasure, you must be close to the float because coconuts are not thrown, but handed to spectators.

The Zulu parade is a fun parade and marks the first of the signature parades that roll on Mardi Gras day.

After Zulu, it was time for Rex, King of Carnival. Rex is the symbol of the carnival season in New Orleans. The organization began in 1872 and created the Mardi Gras flag with the colors – purple (justice), green (faith) and gold (power). The krewe also invented the Mardi Gras doubloon, which has become a staple carnival throw.

Rex, King of Carnival, is toasted at Gallier Hall by Mayor of New Orleans. Rex’s identity is not revealed to the public until Mardi Gras day, when it is announced in the New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper. Rex then stops further up the parade route (this year at the Grandstand at the Hotel Intercontinental) to toast his Queen.

This year’s theme was “Spirits of Spring,” with images of renewal and rebirth.

The floats are rebuilt each year on wagon chassis with wooden spoke wheels. They are pulled by modern-day tractors.

The Bouef Gras or Fat Ox represents the fattened meat before the Lenten season begins. The Bouef Gras is a traditional float in the Rex parade. Smoke pours forth from his nostrils.

Celebrating the city’s rebirth, Rex honors New Orleans with 24 floats that depict renewal and beginnings, 27 floats in all.

Goddess Aphrodite’s shrine was located on Mount Eryx. One of her symbols, the Golden Honeycomb, was displayed in the temple erected in her honor. The temple’s priestesses were known as the melissae, or bees.

New Orleans has much in common with Venetian Carnavale, celebrating with masks, elaborate balls, and ending on Shrove Tuesday.

Equinox means “equal night,” one of the two days each year when days and nights are nearly equal in length. The Spring Equinox is celebrated as the end of the long, cold winter and the beginning of the warmer, fertile growing season.

Poseidon was given dominion over the sea, the birthplace of life, when his parents divided the universe among their children. Poseidon is usually found with trident in his hand, riding in a chariot pulled by sea horses (the hippocampi), with dolphins at his side.

Narcissus was a vain God. Many versions of his story exist. One says that a nymph, Echo, fell in love with him but he was so in love with his own reflection in a pool of water, that he ignored her. She pined away for him, echoing his name. Nemesis heard Echo’s prayers and then turned him into a flower doomed to stare at his own reflection forever.

The Phoenix is a magnificent bird that lives for hundreds of years. It dies in flames, to be reborn again.

This float is a recreation of one originally designed by Ceneilla Bower Alexander for the Rex Procession of 1914. As the winds of March announce the coming of Spring, the sprites and nymphs begin to awake from their Winter slumber.

The Streetcar Named Desire is one of New Orleans’ most famous streetcar lines. This permanent float honors that.

The calliope is a musical instrument that produces sound through whistles.

In Aztec mythology this water Goddess was also associated birth and life.

Freya, also known as Freyja, was a Nordic Goddess and leader of the Valkyries. She brought dead heroes to Valhalla. She flew over the earth, shaking Spring flowers from her blonde hair.

The daughter of Demeter and Zeus, Persephone was abducted by Hades and taken to the Underworld. She eats six pomegranate seeds and has to spend six months with Hades. While Persephone is gone, Demeter grieves and keeps the earth barren. When Persephone returns, the earth comes back to life.

Also known as The Foliate Head, this symbol exists in many forms and in many cultures as a symbol of Spring and rebirth.

Celebrated in Valencia, Spain since the Middle Ages, this mid-Lenten festival culminates on March 19. Neighborhood groups compete in building fanciful figures of papier-mache and wax called ninots. They are set afire as the grand celebration draws to a close.

Ma-Ku is the Chinese Goddess of Springtime. According to legend, she took land from the sea and planted it with mulberry trees. Ma-Ku is also known as the Goddess of the Rain Cloud because Spring heralds the rainy season in China.

The butterfly symbolizes transformation and rebirth in many cultures. Her wings are the very symbol of Springtime.

Zephyrus, the God of the West Wind, was the gentlest of winds. He was known as the messenger of Spring. Zephryus carried away the nymph, Chloris, making her the Goddess of Spring.

The Greeks worshiped the Goddess Aphrodite. Doves lived in her temple. They would fly away each year. Aphrodite took the form of a Red Dove and led the returning doves. Aphrodite’s return to her temple officially ushered in Spring.

Bears fall in a deep slumber during the winter, hibernating. When they awaken, Spring has made her arrival.

The Royal Barge is one of Rex’s permanent floats. This float is the last remnant of the Royal Navy, boats carried on wagons that were part of the earliest Rex Processions.

Of course, no Rex parade would be complete without the Marching 100, the St. Aug (Augustine) band. Known for their theatrical dance moves, the band jazzes up the parade route annually, to throngs of adoring fans.

The Citadel marches with precision.

Mardi Gras is a celebration like no other! If you haven’t been, please visit our fair city. The Fat Tuesday celebration is a time-honored tradition full of history and culture. Each parade is artfully created with gorgeous floats and a painstakingly-researched theme. The Mardi Gras krewes revere their traditions (many are generations old). In New Orleans, Mardi Gras is about celebrating with family and friends, as well as making mirth and merriment.

Here are Soleil and Eliana after the parade with throws around the neck and in the bag!

The King’s jesters decided that it was time to return to the Castle…

King Willie was lucky enough to meet Our Lady of the Gulf and Our Lady of the Swamp. LOL

Come to New Orleans and live our rebirth! And always, laissez les bon temps rouler! Let the good times roll!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Friends:

Monday is Lundi Gras (Fat Monday). It is the night of one of my favorite parades, Orpheus, a fiber-optically lit parade that boasts stunning floats. But rolling first was the Krewe of Proteus. Proteus is known in Greek mythology as the “Shepherd of the Ocean.” He was a god who acted as herdsman of Poseidon’s seals and had the ability to change shape at will. Proteus is New Orleans’ second oldest parading organization, founded in 1882. Led by the captain on horseback, the parade features 25 riding lieutenants.

The theme of Proteus was “Maginogion: The Romance of Wales.” The chassis of the floats date back to the 1880s. Here is Proteus, in his seashell. His identity is never revealed to the public.

Lighted throws included illuminated medallions and flashing seahorses (I caught one!). The floats were beautiful.

Check out this chariot!

After Proteus rolled, it was time for Orpheus. Orpheus was founded by Harry Connick, Jr. in 1994. Named after the son of the Greek Muse Calliope and the Greek God Apollo, Orpheus is a musical god whose music was so beautiful that wild animals ceased their hunting, mountains bowed, seas stopped spraying, and trees bent near to listen when he sang.

This year’s theme was “The Whimsical World of How and Why.” Each float was themed after a pour quoi story. The krewe boasts 1,200 male and female members with floats created by Blaine Kern artists.

Flambeaux lit the way with their illumating fire. In the old days, before parade were lit by street lights and the high tech methods of modern times, flambeaux helped illuminate the parade route with their torches. It is tradition to throw coins to the flambeaux as they pass. Today, however, they prefer dollar bills handed to them. I guess that’s the price of inflation!

The Trojan Horse is one of Orpheus’ mainstays. It is a gigantic version I imagine rivals the original!

Orpheus is now considered a “super krewe,” following in the footsteps of Endymion (Saturday night) and Bacchus (Sunday night). This Monday night parade has nearly doubled from its original 700 riders.

The “storied” floats were spectacular. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch the names of all the floats but I do have a few! This one is “Why the Moon Bewitches.”

As a storyteller, I was fascinated by the number of stories I had not heard of, like this one.

I hung out with family and friends in the DOD (Department of Defense) grandstand on the corner of St. Charles and Poydras. It was the perfect spot to catch the parade. My stepdad is retired Navy so he and his family are granted access to the stands.

The Orpheus parade riders are very generous with their throws, throwing elegant beads and stuffed animals such as Leviathan, the mammoth dragon that roars onto the Orpheus parade route every year.

Here is the tail end of that monstrous float!

I love this float! It’s a great story too!

The Smokey Mary train is another Orpheus tradition. This float appears in every Orpheus parade. The train’s headlight is bright!

I would love to know how the camel got his hump, especially since there is a genie on the front of the float!

As usual, the Orpheus parade was spectacular. One day, I hope to ride in this magnificent parade.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Friends:

Antonio, my husband, and I were invited to a Dimanche Gras luncheon with some friends. After having drinks at the Hotel Monteleone Carousel bar in the French Quarter, we walked to Antoine’s restaurant. The food was superb. I had the terre pomme souffle (puffed potatoes) for an appetizer, traditional grits and grillades (made with veal) for an entree’, and cheesecake for dessert. Here is the entire gang. Thank, you Harold (Rex Rihner 2026) for an incredible lunch!

Afterward, we walked through the French Quarter and strolled Bourbon Street. It was teeming with Mardi Gras revelers.

Natives and tourists alike love the party atmosphere during Mardi Gras.

Antonio and I enjoyed our stroll through the French Quarter. I even sang karaoke at The Cat’s Meow!

Then it was on to view the Bacchus parade. Bacchus (the Roman God of Wine) is the night parade that rules on the Sunday before Mardi Gras. We went with our friends to the Hotel Intercontinental, where we had tickets to the Grand Stand, an elevated viewing stand that allows spectators better access to the carnival floats.

Bacchus is the parade that set the stage for today’s “super krewes.” In 1968, twelve New Orleans businessmen gathered to explore new directions for Mardi Gras parades. What resulted was super floats and national celebrity monarchs. This year’s theme was “Creatures of the Imagination.” The gorgeous, colorfully illuminated floats are manned by over 1,300 masked riders.

Bacchus boasted 34 floats this year and throws included light up frisbees (I caught one), footballs, medallion beads, and doubloons in three colors.

Staple floats in the Bacchus parade (floats that appear every year) are the Kong family (King Kong, Queen Kong and Baby Kong), the Bacchasaurus, the Bacchagator (110 feet long), and the Bacchawhoppa (a giant whale).

It has been tradition for parade goers to throw beads at the Kong family and try to get their beads to stay on the float. As a result, the floats get pretty beat up.

The floats were just breathtaking. So much artistry and craftsmanship go into creating each float. Take a look at this monstrous float.

Here is a float that looks like a giant crawfish. I’m not really sure what imaginary creature this might be. Any guesses?

High school marching bands punctuate the parade route, entertaining crowds between floats. They jam and create a fun frenzy that adds to the carnival spirit. It is quite an honor to be selected to march in a Mardi Gras parade, particularly the New Orleans Mardi Gras weekend parades. The bands march the entire parade route, many of them hauling heavy instruments. It’s amazing to see them perform, knowing they have marched for hours on end. We so appreciate our high school marching bands!

Here is Bacchasaurus, a huge dinosaur float that makes his appearance in every Bacchus parade. Bacchasaurus is a Bacchus tradition.

This next float was one of my favorites. He was a “one-eyed, one-horn, flying purple people eater…”

Bacchus was a fun parade and I met so many nice people. Hi Mary and Lee from Sugar Land, Texas! And there was so much more to come!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Friends:

Friday began very early in the morning. I made my appearance on Good Morning New Orleans, the early morning news program on ABC-26 WGNO (see previous blog). Then I headed to Bissonet Plaza Elementary for Day 8 of my residency. Unfortunately, I ran into some serious traffic on the bridge that caused me to be late for school (for the first time ever!).

On my way to class, I was walking in front of the school when my boot heel got caught in a crack in the sidewalk. I felt myself falling. Immediately I dropped everything in my hands. My first thought was, “I cannot fall on the concrete!” So I flung myself into the grass. I fell so hard, my face and knees hit the grass. I had the wind knocked out of me and lay on the ground dazed for a couple of minutes. When I was able to compose myself, I walked slowly into school and to the library. The librarian, Ellen Miller, sent me to the office for some ice. My right eye turned red and the right side of my face began to welt. I felt bruises on my knees. The principal and the office staff were so kind to me, nursing me and asking if I needed to go to the doctor. After sitting for half an hour, I felt okay and really wanted to go to class. I missed my first class with Ms. Chieffo’s second graders.

I headed into kindergarten to tell “The Gigantic Sweet Potato” to Ms. Anchissi’s class. They enjoyed the story and we danced with scarves to Mardi Gras jazz music.

Then I headed to Mr. Boone’s third grade class. They were ready for me! There were cheers and hugs as soon as I entered the room.

I love Mr. Boone and his class. This class had already rehearsed and they were ready to show me that they knew their parts without their scripts! It was amazing!

Mr. Boone’s third grade story chorus was equally fantastic. They did a phenomenal job with their part, really spicing up the story.

Afterward, we had some time to have a little fun. They listened to some of my songs and stories on my website. They really loved “Peanut Butter and Jelly Jam!” Thank you, Mr. Boone’s class. You rock!

After lunch, it was on to pre-k. Since I missed the second graders earlier in the day, we readjusted the schedule and combined my last two classes, which were pre-k, into one class, leaving last period open for my second grade class. I went into Ms. Muller’s room and Ms. Leboutillier’s class joined us. It was a lot of fun having such energetic students all in one space. We had fun singing and learning some of my “Settle Downs.”

We ended a little early so that we could all see the third grade Mardi Gras parade of shoe box floats. The third grade shoe box floats each represented a U.S. state. It was a great parade!

My last class was Ms. Chieffo’s second grade class. I told “The Gigantic Sweet Potato” and then did my “Pile It on the Pie a Mile High” song game. We had a blast. Afterward, we had time for a Q&A and they wanted to know so much about my travels and writing books. Everyone was in the Mardi Gras spirit, including these second graders! Too cute!

Happy Mardi Gras, Bissonet Plaza Elementary! Laissez les bon temps rouler! Let the good times roll!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Jurassic Mardi Gras
By Dianne de Las Casas
© 2005

Note from Dianne: This story was inspired by the Jurassic Mardi Gras float I created with my brother, Gary, and his son, Jourdan.

Around the corner and down the street
The dinos move to the mambo beat
All the abominable beasts are out
Getting ready for the parade route
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

On Napoleon and Claiborne
Camarasaurus blows her horn
Diplodocus counts each doubloon
As Gallimimus yells, “We’re rolling soon!”
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

Down Napoleon roll the big beasts
On sweet King Cake, Janenschia feasts
Brachiosaurus throws his beads
As Riojaurus sits back and reads
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

Turning on St. Charles, the huge crowd roars
To see Rex, King of Carnivores
Dimorphodon swoops into the crowd
They all cheer and yell so loud
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

Around Lee Circle they boom and bop
Then in front of the Grand Stand the dinos stop
The mayor toasts and cheers the King dinosaur
And Rex roars as the crowd cheers some more
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

Moving and grooving to the carnival sound
The dinosaurs are the hippest beasts around
The mega monsters turn on Canal Street
And Wannanosaurus wiggles to the marching band beat
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

Styracosaurus balances bundles of throws
Baryonyx boogies while he’s on the go
Pterodactylus spins and soars around
The crazy creatures love to party downtown
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

Zigongosaurus is dancing zydeco
Velociraptor takes a Lucky Dog to go
Singing his catchy Mardi Gras tunes
The great Notoceratops swings and swoons
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

Passing Magazine and nearing the end
Mamenchisaurus looks down and makes a friend
Triceratops stops and sings the blues
As Apatosaurus dances in her blue suede shoes
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

Tchoupitoulas is where the procession ends
In the Crescent City, where the river bends
A jazz band plays a super cool groove
All the dinosaurs get up and bust a move
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

Spectators gather in awe of the view
Beads fly from the floats of this motley krewe
“Throw me something, mister,” the dino crowd roars
Everyone hails the King of Dinosaurs
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

King Rex waves goodbye until next year
The crowd romps and stomps and chomps and cheers
It’s a jumping Jurassic Mardi Gras
Hooray for all the jaws and claws
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

ROAR!!!

Friends,

Here in New Orleans, it is Lundi Gras (which is French for “Fat Monday,” the Monday before Mardi Gras, “Fat Tuesday”). The Saturday, Sunday and Monday before Mardi Gras mark the appearance of the “Super Krewes.” On Saturday, Endymion rolls, one of the largest Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans. On Sunday, Bacchus, the God of Wine, rolls. Orpheus, orchestrated by New Orleans’ own Harry Connick, Jr., catches the limelight on Monday. All of these “weekend” parades are night parades, illuminated by dazzling displays of fiber optics, animatronics, and huge, colorful floats.

Mardi Gras is a grand spectacle. There’s nothing like it in the world. It’s the world’s biggest free parade. The season kicks off on January 6th, the 12th day of Christmas, the Epiphany. It is during this time that king cakes, one of New Orleans’ most delicious confections, become available. In 1871, the Twelfth Night Revelers made Mardi Gras history when a “king cake” was presented to a woman. Inside was hidden a golden bean, signifying her selection as the “Mardi Gras Queen.” King Cakes are now elaborate creations decorated in the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold and stuffed with fruit or cream cheese fillings. Traditionally, inside the King Cake, you will find a small, plastic baby, which represents the Christ Child. The person who gets the “baby” buys the next King Cake.

Another great Mardi Gras tradition are the “throws.” Beads, stuffed animals, doubloons, and other trinkets are flung from the floats by masked riders. Crowds go crazy for these colorful treasures and they are the hallmark of a great parade. Here are some Mardi Gras throws caught by my daughters this past weekend.

So what do we do with all these beads? We give them away to out-of-town friends and family. We string them on our Christmas trees. We craft with them. Check out these Mardi Gras maracas made by me and Eliana, my seven year old.

You can make these too, even if you don’t have Mardi Gras beads. The first one is a clear soda or water bottle filled with beads. You can also fill the bottle with beans, rice, and pasta. The second one, decorated with Valentine stickers is a toilet paper roll. Staple one end shut. Fill it with beads, rice, beans or pasta (less is better for a fuller sound). Staple the remaining opening shut, but staple it in the other direction, forming a triangle.

Another Mardi Gras tradition is for children to create Mardi Gras shoe box floats. Schools and malls often hold shoe box float contests. This season, I helped my six year old, first grader niece, Ashlynn, create a “Valentine” float to celebrate the 100th day of school. On the float we glued 100 candy sweethearts. Yes, there are exactly 100. We counted them six times!

And, there are Mardi Gras beads glued to the float as well. Creating a shoe box float is easy. First, you need a medium-sized shoe box. Cover the shoe box and lid with wrapping or construction paper of your choice. Turn the shoe box upside down so that the opening is on the bottom. The lid of the shoe box is glued to the back of the box, creating a “wall” or a “throne” effect. Now all you have to do is decorate. Choosing a theme, like the Krewes do with the real Mardi Gras floats, is the easiest way to create a cool float. Consider your favorite TV show or cartoon, animals, insects, dinosaurs, dolls (Barbies, Bratz, etc.), holidays, movies, etc. The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination!

Happy Lundi Gras, friends. Laissez les bon temps rouler – let the good times roll!

Warmly, Dianne