BACK PORCH by Melissa Morgan: What you need to know if you think Mardi Gras is only about naked women and alcohol
By: Melissa Morgan
It’s Carnival time! Well, at least in New Orleans it is.
This being the last week of Carnival season, Louisiana locals are breaking out their beads, fancy costumes and free spirits to get ready for next week’s big culmination of the holidayMardi Gras or "Fat Tuesday."
Mardi Gras is traditionally the last chance for people celebrating Carnival to get sinning out of their systems before the start of Lentmarked by the Catholic holiday of Ash Wednesday. But more than that, it’s a time to just relax and enjoy life. Businesses shut down, kids have off from school and neighbors and families join together to watch parades and have a good time.
And just like every year during this time, I ask, "Why can’t Carnival be a national holiday?" Especially at a time when the whole nation is in crisis mode, I’m sure everyone could benefit from a little Mardi Gras spirit.
The problem with this proposal is when people outside of New Orleans think of Mardi Gras, most picture massive, inebriated crowds on Bourbon Street and college girls on spring break showing off their assets to get beads, but Mardi Gras is much more. Actually, flashing for beads has never been a Carnival tradition. Instead, the holiday is steeped in tons of other customs that all celebrate life and good spirits.
Being the girlfriend of a native New Orleanian, I was taught a lot about the true meaning of Mardi Gras. Following are some of the more little-known traditions of the season:
Krewes: Each section of the city has its own krewe, which are groups developed from private social clubs that have restrictive membership policies. Members of each krewe organize and participate in the costumed parades most of which happen during the last week of Carnival.
King cakes: One of the foods people feast on most during Mardi Gras are king cakes. These cakes, consisting of a combination of rolled dough and cinnamon, are topped with colored sugar.
The most important thing about king cakes, however, probably isn’t the taste. Each cake contains a little plastic baby hidden somewhere inside. The person who bites into the baby must either throw the next party or buy the next cake.
Balls: The king and queen of each krewe and the krewe members work all year in preparation for their post-parade ball. The identity of the king and queen is usually a secret revealed on the night of the ball.
While most of the balls are private celebrations, some krewes allow people to buy tickets and attend these very formal celebrations.
Colors: Tradition states that whenever someone is not in costume during Carnival, they must be wearing the Mardi Gras colors green, gold and purple. Purple represents justice; green, faith; and gold, power.
Throws: Beads are definitely not the only prized possession to catch during a Mardi Gras parade. People on floats give out all kinds of throws to the crowds, including paper cups, stuffed animals, painted coconuts and doubloons. The doubloons are aluminum and usually depict the parade theme on one side and the krewe’s emblem on the other. Coconuts are a great treasure and hard to get.
The traditional catchphrase one is supposed to say to receive a throw is "Throw me something, Mister!" Though, today, people usually just have to raise their hands and shout to get something from a masked krewe member.
No matter what the tradition, Carnival is much more than an excuse to catch a glimpse of some naked women. It’s a lifestyle, and everyone could benefit from some of the vivacity of the holiday. You don’t have to attend a ball, start a community krewe or organize a parade, but we can all do something to kick back, relax and enjoy life a little more during the next week. Sport some Mardi Gras colors, split a king cake with your family and friends (www.gambinos.com) or throw a party.
The South Brunswick Department of Recreation/Community Affairs is sponsoring Mardi Gras Night, featuring music by Ray-Dee-Oh! Dee Jay from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Community Center, on New Road in Monmouth Junction, on Friday.
There probably won’t be jazz music or king cakes, but you can still enjoy light refreshments, top 40 hits and dancing.
Best of all, just like Mardi Gras, the event is free of charge. But, reservations are required. For information, call (732) 329-4000, ext. 644.
Just because we don’t live in the Big Easy doesn’t mean we can’t join in on the fun. Boil yourself up a pot of crawdads and get the party started!
Melissa Morgan is social editor for the South Brunswick Post. She can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].

