History of Mardi Gras in Mobile

For the boys on DaVinci Hall at the Alabama School of Math and Science. Five questions. The first set of roommates to email me and Jada with all five correct answers get a barbecue chicken dinner and a trip to the Museum of Mobile. The museum is currently showing an exhibit on pirates.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• davinci
• hall
• asms

[TitaniumByFire]

My wife disagrees with you about the oldest parading society in Mobile. She says it is the OOM.

[mellotron12]

@TitaniumByFire The Strikers are the oldest society (1843) although they no longer host an annual parade. The Order of Myths is the oldest society (1867) that still has an annual parade.

[nola305]

To mellotron12: Why did'nt someone video-post footage of the Dauphin St.

Mardi gras scene so people viewing YOUTUBE can see what it's like ? If some

one already has, can they post it ?

[mellotron12]

I haven't because I don't have a handheld camera. I don't want to take my laptop into that crowd :). I'll ask around, though.

[nola305]

What do you mean it is (Mardi gras) NOW associated with New Orleans ? Was it ever a secret ? And what city is that song you were playing associated with ? What city is popular with Mardi gras "King Cakes ? I did'nt hear you mention "Moon pies.

[mellotron12]

I'm an RA at a residential high school and this video was for the boys on my hall.

The first Mardi Gras was in Mobile, Alabama. The song I was playing was "When the Saints Go Marching In," and the song is most assuredly associated with New Orleans.

The point of the video was to educate the boys, and to mention that, even though Americans associate Mardi Gras with New Orleans, Mardi Gras began and is still celebrated in Mobile.

I did mention moon pies.

[TitaniumByFire]

@mellotron12 I must add that your video is educational about the history. Thanks for posting it.

[TitaniumByFire]

@mellotron12 Ok, thanks. I'm a newbie in mobile, so I still have a little bit to learn about who all of the societies are.

[boyneworleans]

I saw you walking down Broad street afew hours ago. I'm from Mobile be have live away for 17 years. I just moved back to Mobile a few weeks ago. I'm also interested in local history .I would love to talk with you about history let's get a drank sometimes I live close by downtown.

[broman9tre]

Same in Mobile...its pretty much the same, except Mobile is more "family friendly". But we bring in pretty large numbers, nearly as big as N.O. . I'm not sure of the names of the societies, its been some years since the storm hit, and they've all just "melded in " together. There are so many folks who've moved to mobile from N.O. its insane. If I happen to run across the names of those societies, I'll let ya know

[nola305]

In your last comment, some S&P Clubs from N.O. chose to stay in Mobile. Can you tell me which clubs remained, because if they stay there, they're defeating the purpose for having a NEW ORLEANS S&P Club. If you don't already know, to hold parades you have to pay for permits, have insurance, pay for police escorts, hire brass bands, traverse through neighborhoods, disrupt traffic (usually on Sundays). Also for parades, there has to be participation by the locals, Hence the "secondline."

[broman9tre]

Most of the Black societies are very exclusive and private. You probably won't find much video footage of some of their other celebrations, if any. Most of them, however, do participate publicly in community-based service projects and fund-raisers, which culminate with the balls during Mardi Gras season.