For those looking to get into the krewe of hunters series by heather graham, this section will help you with that. The procession illustrated the history of louisiana, and was greeted with enthusiastic applause along the entire route. The krewe of alla is proud to announce that it has published its history in a book called a mighty river bends for a king. It is the oldest continuous organization of new orleans mardi gras festivities. Krewe is an independent eyewear company that celebrates individual style through culturally inspired frames. Although the first king of the venerable rex krewe back in 1872 was jewish, oneill notes that this phenomenon has not reoccurred p. The spectators are all lavishly costumed as cowboys and indians, characters from gone with the wind, and others. The year was also the first when the economic impact of carnival crossed the one billion dollar mark. The subject chosen was illustrative of american history. The knights of the mystick krewe of rex are sponsoring our second annual knight golf tournament this saturday, february 4, 2012. While the rex krewe is considered carnival royalty and often called the official king of mardi gras. Rex founded 1872 is a new orleans carnival krewe which stages one of the citys most celebrated parades on mardi gras day. Check out our brief history of mardi gras and find out. Historic krewes like comus, rex and zulu that date back generations are intertwined with the greater history of new orleans itself.
Rex and his queen preside over the rex ball, carnivals glittering conclusion. The histories of carnival, rex and this old and unique american city weave together in fascinating ways. Part of that process also resulted in his book, rex. Continuing the tradition of mardi gras krewes being named after mythological gods and goddesses, the krewe was named after the the feminine archetype for creation the goddess of fertility and motherhood. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. The mistick krewe of comus, founded in 1856, is a new orleans, louisiana carnival krewe. Brooke duncan ii, oldest former rex and krewe captain during.
Rex, officially the school of design, has held more parades than any other organization. Youngs book outlines the history of the mistick krewe of comus, the krewe that. The carnival krewes are the backbone of this big easy tradition. Prior to the advent of comus, carnival celebrations in new orleans were mostly confined to the roman catholic creole community, and parades were irregular and often very. The history of mardi gras arthur hardys mardi gras guide. The krewes founders, feeling that the traditional mardi gras institutions had become.
This outofprint, exceedingly rare book is in great condition, and features color illustrations. The colors traditionally associated with mardi gras in new orleans are green, gold, and purple. Rex s proclamation invites his subjects to the grand celebration of carnival. Rex has been the global symbol of new orleans most famous holiday since his first appearance in 1872. The float three witches, is on display during a special viewing of rex floats saturday, jan.
It is a tune that some would describe as quirky, a song from an 1870s musical called bluebeard. Krewe the early new orleans carnival comus to zulu, a. Krewe membership is open to all who have access to the internet and their motto is. It documents just how different the celebration of preworld war ii is from the modern ones. The story of how the man who was once edward viii, king the united.
Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. Each mardi gras parade krewe has a unique history and theme. Similar to smaller parades i guess, but not as desperate for members. Comus to zulu, errol laborde shows the abovementioned meanings of the mardi gras colors to be false.
By the start of 20, eight novels were already released in the series. Feb 03, 2018 a brief history of the mystick krewe of comus, the original new orleans mardi gras krewe, and how they are celebrated to this day despite their racist grand standing that occurs every year on. Up to the early 1900s, the main krewes were rex, comus, proteus, and momus, each with their favorite artist collaborators. The story of rexs fanciful carnival kingdom its royalty and traditions, its processions and imperial receptions, its crown jewels and rich art, its symbols and song is a story best told in pictures as the book presents more than 160 pages and 250 images, most not previously published, to illuminate. This amateur footage of the krewe of rex parading in the 1941 mardi gras celebration in new orleans has spectacular color.
Mardi gras is a holiday known for beads, cocktails, and king cake, but do you know its origins. Rex is always a prominent person in the city, one who is usually. Krewe of comus and the racism of mardi gras youtube. Krewe the early new orleans carnival comus to zulu, a book. For those unfamiliar with new orleans carnival carryingson, ill explain the relationship between the burned house at 2525 st. Jan 15, 2020 brooke duncan ii, a lawyer and civic leader who reigned as rex, king of carnival, in 1971 and served as captain of the rex organization when the parade was canceled by a police strike in 1979. How the duke and duchess of windsor earned their place in mardi gras history after joining the rex festivities in 1950 at mardi gras in new orleans. Photos of the rex parade at mardi gras in new orleans set to carnival time by al johnson. All three colors were used by the catholic church throughout history and thus continued to be used in relation to mardi gras which was catholic in origin. The krewe consists of 600 male riders and parades on the new orleans. Its king is known as the arch druid and he is accompanied on the kings float by a jester. Krewe the early new orleans carnival comus to zulu, a book by errol laborde. Rexs proclamation invites his subjects to the grand celebration of carnival.
Finally, just as the decade had begun with the historic introduction of the rex doubloon, so did the period end with another landmark event the start of the bacchus organization. An illustrated history of the school of design from stephen hales. The colors were first specified in proclamations by the rex organization during the leadup to their inaugural parade in 1872, suggesting that balconies be draped in banners of these colors. The birth of le krewe detat and the ancient druids, plus the triumphant return of the krewe of proteus in 2000, were highlights as mardi gras marched on into the new millennium. Founded in 1967 and named for the olympian god of fertility and eternal youth, this krewe is the largest in mardi gras history, rising to super krewe status in 1974. Stephen hales, sets aside history book to pick up a scepter. Groups of independent business men and women who support local recreational activities. The krewe of isis mardi gras organization all about isis. While we most definitely put on the largest and most fun free party in north america, the celebration of fat tuesday is much older than new orleans. Some have been around for decades, while others have been in existence for just a few years.
The krewe s founders, feeling that the traditional mardi gras institutions had become. Krewe of rex special pins date back to the late 1800s wgno. It is the oldest continuous organization of new orleans mardi gras festivities before comus was organized, carnival celebrations in new orleans were mostly confined to the roman catholic creole community, and parades were irregular and often very informally organized. This is a rare first edition of an out of print history of the krewe of rex, king of carnival. Historic krewes like comus, rex and zulu that date back generations are intertwined with. Happy mardi gras jeff davis high marching band visits new orleans rex mardi gras parade 2020 duration.
Carnival has ancient roots and has been celebrated in many cultures for many centuries. Be sure to get your scramble foursome registered, space is limited. The zulu krewe were created in 1916 and was the first krewe dedicated solely to the african american population of new orleans. This krewe was designed to investigate crimes, mainly murders, that have some supernatural undertones to them. Brooke duncan ii, oldest former rex and krewe captain. The identity of rex is made public on lundi gras, the day before mardi gras. And his understanding of the history of carnival makes his words on the carnival celebrated a few months after hurricane katrina devastated new orleans so meaningful. Rex is latin for king, and rex reigns as the king of carnival. Every year, different krewes put on extravagant parties and celebrations to commemorate the beginning of the lenten season.
Mythology, literature, religion, and history, as well as nineteenthcentury book illustration and turn of thecentury art nouveau, were remixed into an eclectic excess. The mistick krewe of comus, founded in 1856, is a new orleans, louisiana, carnival krewe. Brooke duncan ii, a lawyer and civic leader who reigned as rex, king of carnival, in 1971 and served as captain of the rex organization when the parade was canceled by a. Krewe of bacchus features national celebrity monarchs each year, and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors. The krewes founders, feeling that the traditional mardi gras institutions had become static, wanted to attract national attention and make carnival more accessible. Youngs book outlines the history of the mistick krewe of comus, the krewe that turned mardi gras into the celebration it is today. Mythology, literature, religion, and history, as well as nineteenthcentury book illustration and turnofthecentury art nouveau, were remixed into an eclectic excess. They are the origin of many mardi gras traditions, including the official carnival colors of purple, green and gold, as well as the collectible doubloon coins introduced by rex in 1960. There is actually another krewe that is considered carnival royalty and that is the zulu krewe. The krewe of rex will roll through uptown on mardi gras on tuesday.
The ancient druids was organized in 1998 and is not related to the mystic krewe of druids, whose parades followed the rex processions from 1922 to 1935. After a year under this name, the krewe found a more suitable mythological goddess for which to name their krewe and the krewe of isis was born. Mistick krewe of comus, new orleans, extenstive historical. This will end our longestever parade season to date. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. One member of the rex organization is each year chosen to be the monarch of the organization. A brief history of the mystick krewe of comus, the original new orleans mardi gras krewe, and how they are celebrated to this day despite their. A day later, the krewe of rex chimed in with the official announcement that it will not cancel its annual mardi gras day toast at the burned montgomerygrace home. She will toast her king at the hotel intercontinental on mardi gras and then join him and the krewe at the rex ball on tuesday night. Guests had the opportunity to see the unveiling of floats. Jan 17, 2018 when it comes to mardi gras, new orleanians like to think were at the center of the universe. Although the first king of the venerable rex krewe back in 1872 was jewish, o neill notes that this phenomenon has not reoccurred p. An illustrated history, by arthur hardy first edition came out in 2001. Krewe of rex special pins date back to the late 1800s.
Rex, one of the oldest mardi gras krewes, has been participating in parades since 1872, and established purple, gold and green as the iconic mardi gras colors. Roll with the king of carnival himself as the tumb rolls once again in the annual rex parade on mardi gras day. The allmale club is distinctive in that it does not stage a ball or feature a queen and court. It looks like we dont have any biography for krewe of rex yet be the first to contribute. Its a really gorgeous book, so krewe history has been important over years as well. They were founded in 1871, and have been marching mardi gras day ever since. Just click the edit page button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the biography submission guide. His royal colors of purple, green, and gold are to this day the colors of mardi gras, and the song played in the first rex parade, if ever i cease to love, has become carnivals anthem. In recognition of his service to the krewe and the city, the pediatrician who has treated several generations of young new orleanians has been chosen to be this years rex, king of carnival. Mardi gras, new orleans, kings float in krewe of rex parade. Revelers take to the streets to enjoy the krewe of rex parade on mardi gras day. How did new orleans become almost synonymous with carnival, or mardi gras, and how did rex become the king of the new orleans carnival.