Traditions & History

Mardi Gras Historical Timeline

Mardi Gras in Lafayette has a rich history, evolving from humble beginnings to a vibrant and expansive celebration. The following timeline highlights key moments in the development of Lafayette’s Mardi Gras festivities, showcasing the growth and lasting traditions that continue to make it a beloved event today.

1869

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First recorded Mardi Gras in Lafayette

Mardi Gras celebrations in Lafayette date back to 1869 when a local newspaper reported the event featuring Clement’s band playing at the courthouse. While this was the first documented observance, it set the stage for future festivities in the city.

1896

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The beginning of Lafayette’s city-wide celebrations

By 1896, Lafayette began its first city-wide Mardi Gras celebration, marking a significant step in expanding the event beyond local gatherings. This shift helped formalize the celebration, leading to a more organized and public observance in the years to come.

1897

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King Attakapas’ grand entrance

In 1897, King Attakapas, Judge George Armand “Bedon” Martin, made a grand entrance into Lafayette aboard a Southern Pacific locomotive, which became a cherished tradition until 1961. This dramatic arrival symbolized the royal nature of Mardi Gras celebrations in the city.

1897

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Lafayette’s first Mardi Gras parade and ball

1897 saw the first official Mardi Gras parade and ball in Lafayette. The parade featured elaborate chariots and floats, while the ball that followed in the Courthouse was remembered as one of the finest social gatherings in the city’s history.

1926

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Krewe of Oberon and the return of city-wide festivities

The Krewe of Oberon, formed in 1926 by the Catholic Daughters of America, played a crucial role in revitalizing Mardi Gras in Lafayette. This year also marked the return of city-wide celebrations, which had been suspended for a time, and the beginning of new traditions.

1927

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Lafayette High School and American Legion join the Mardi Gras celebrations

In 1927, the first Lafayette High School Carnival took place, alongside the inaugural American Legion Mardi Gras parade. These events added to the growing celebrations and helped solidify Lafayette’s role as a hub for Mardi Gras festivities in the region.

1934

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The formation of the Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association

In 1934, the creation of the Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association brought together civic leaders to coordinate and promote Mardi Gras celebrations. This move helped ensure the sustainability and growth of Lafayette’s Mardi Gras as a city-wide event.

1934

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The birth of King Gabriel and Queen Evangeline

In 1934, the names of King Gabriel and Queen Evangeline became the official titles for Lafayette’s Mardi Gras monarchs. These names are a nod to the Acadian history of the region, symbolizing the romance of the exiled lovers immortalized in the poem Evangeline.

1942

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World War II halts Mardi Gras

During World War II, Lafayette’s Mardi Gras celebrations were suspended from 1942 to 1947 as the city and country focused on the war effort. This break marked a significant pause in the city’s cultural traditions, though the celebrations would soon resume.

1948

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Mardi Gras returns after WWII

In 1948, after a six-year hiatus due to World War II, Mardi Gras celebrations returned to Lafayette. The resumption of festivities marked a revival of local traditions, and Lafayette’s Mardi Gras celebrations regained their prominence.

1949

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The Krewe of Gabriel assists Mardi Gras promotion

Formed in 1949, the Krewe of Gabriel became an essential part of promoting Mardi Gras celebrations in Lafayette. The Krewe supported the Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association’s efforts, helping to expand the scale of the annual event.

1965

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Queen Evangeline’s Tuesday night parade

In 1965, the first Tuesday night parade was held in honor of Queen Evangeline, becoming a staple of the Mardi Gras celebrations in Lafayette. This addition introduced a new evening parade to the festivities, further enriching the city’s Mardi Gras traditions.

1970

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The Queen’s parade shifts to Monday

In 1970, the Tuesday night Queen’s parade was moved to Monday night. This adjustment to the parade schedule provided additional flexibility for the celebrations, allowing more time for revelers to enjoy the festivities.

1986

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Krewe of Bonaparte and Saturday night parade

In 1986, the Krewe of Bonaparte introduced a Saturday night parade, adding to the already vibrant Mardi Gras schedule in Lafayette. This new parade enhanced the festive atmosphere and became a beloved part of the weekend’s celebrations.

1987

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First parade through the Cajun Dome

In 1987, a parade was held that physically ran through the Cajun Dome, offering a unique experience for both parade participants and spectators. This marked an exciting evolution in Lafayette’s Mardi Gras celebrations, bringing the festivities to a new venue.

1990

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The addition of the Children’s Parade

In 1990, the “Children’s Parade” was introduced as a Saturday afternoon event, adding a family-friendly element to the Mardi Gras festivities. This new addition provided a fun and safe environment for young revelers to enjoy the parades and celebrations.

1993

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Parade route expanded to Cajun Field

In 1993, Lafayette’s Mardi Gras parade route was extended to run through Cajun Field, offering a broader space for the growing crowds and adding excitement to the event. This change allowed more participants and spectators to enjoy the parades.

1993

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Le Festival de Mardi Gras a Lafayette

In 1993, “Le Festival de Mardi Gras a Lafayette” was created at Cajun Field, offering a family-friendly atmosphere with games, carnival rides, Cajun food, and live music. The festival helped broaden the appeal of Mardi Gras in Lafayette, offering fun activities for all ages.

1998

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The addition of the Friday night Kick-Off Parade

In 1998, the Friday night “Kick-Off Parade” was introduced, officially starting the Mardi Gras celebrations for the weekend. This new parade added a festive kickoff to the annual events and helped set the tone for the excitement to come.

Traditions

Official Colors

The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple (symbolic of justice), green (symbolic of faith) and gold (symbolic of power). The accepted story behind the original selection of these colors originates from 1872 when the Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff of Russia visited New Orleans. During his stay, he was given the honor of selecting the official Mardi Gras colors by the Krewe of Rex. For the Grand Duke, the decision was simple, and true to his noble roots, he selected the official colors of the House of Romanov. The 1892 Rex Parade theme (“Symbolism of Colors”) first gave meaning to the representation of the official Mardi Gras colors.

According to lore, the colors of Mardi Gras also influenced the choice of school colors for Louisiana State University and Tulane University. When LSU was deciding on its colors, the stores in New Orleans had stocked-up on fabrics of purple, green and gold for the upcoming Mardi Gras Season. LSU, opting for purple and gold, bought a large quantity of the available cloth. Tulane purchased much of the only remaining color…green.

King Cake

The King Cake is a brioche-style cake traditionally made only during the weeks prior to Mardi Gras. The King Cake is a bakery delicacy made from rich Danish dough and covered with a poured sugar topping decorated in the traditional Mardi Gras-colored sugars of purple, green and gold. This colorful topping is representative of a jeweled crown in honor of the Three Wise Men who visited the Christ Child on Epiphany. Epiphany, also known as Twelfth Night (January 6th) is when the Carnival Season officially begins each year.

The King Cake tradition is believed to have begun in Louisiana with French settlers around 1870, who were themselves continuing a custom which dated back to 12th century France, when a similar cake was used to celebrate the coming of the Magi twelve days after Christmas bearing gifts for the Christ Child. This celebration was also once known as King’s Day. As a symbol of this Holy Day, a tiny plastic baby (symbolic of the baby Jesus) is placed inside each King Cake but in older times, the hidden items were usually coins, beans, pecans or peas.

Today, the cakes are baked in many shapes but originally, they were round to portray the circular route take by the Magi in order to confuse King Herod, whose army was attempting to follow the Wise Men so that the Christ Child could be killed. In 1871, the tradition of choosing the Queen of Mardi Gras was determined by who drew the prize within the cake. Today, such a find is still deemed to be a sign of good luck and it customary for the person who discovers the hidden plastic baby to host the next King Cake Party.

King cakes are available at bakeries all over South Louisiana, but only January 6 through Mardi Gras Day.

Throws

The tradition of throwing trinkets to the crowds during Mardi Gras parades was initiated in the early 1870s by the Twelfth Night Revelers and has become a time-honored expectation. In 1884, the Krewe of Rex threw the first medallions (silver-dollar-sized commemorative coins later called doubloons) instead of the customary trinkets.

Today’s doubloons are usually aluminum and anodized in a variety of colors, depicting the parade theme on one side and the emblem of the particular Krewe on the other. Many of these doubloons later become collectors’ items. Early medallions were much heavier than those minted today and were usually awarded only as ball favors.

Other popular throws include long strings of beads and plastic cups bearing the emblems of the Krewes. The traditional cry of parade-goers who are pleading for throws is: “Throw me something, Mister!”

The Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association’s Role:

The association is not a krewe but is a board of volunteers who serve as the organizing body for Lafayette’s Mardi Gras celebration. The association coordinates the parades, including securing the floats, hiring the marching bands, purchasing insurance, and working with the Public Works, Police, and Fire Departments, as well as other governmental agencies, to coordinate the festivities. The association also produces the “Le Festival de Mardi Gras à Lafayette” at Cajun Field, which is the group’s major fundraiser. Funds raised are used to underwrite the costs of the parades, the City Ball, and other Mardi Gras activities.

The association has no dues and no paid employees (all volunteer). The association receives no public funds, although the Lafayette Consolidated Government provides many in-kind services. The costs of Mardi Gras—the biggest free party in Lafayette—are borne by the various krewes and their members, as well as by the Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association.

Independent academic studies have shown that Mardi Gras, through all of its related activities, krewes, and participants, has an annual economic impact of over $110 million on the economy of Acadiana.