A mystic society is a Carnival organization, very similar to a krewe in New Orleans, that presents parades and/or balls for the enjoyment of its members, guests, and the public. Carnival is a festival season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February and March A Krewe (pronounced in the same way as "crew" is an organization that puts on a Parade and or a ball for the Carnival season New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana [1] The term came to be used in this context in Mobile, Alabama. [1] Mystic society membership is secret. [1] Mobile's mystic societies build colorful Carnival floats and parade throughout downtown during the Carnival season with masked society members tossing small gifts, known as throws, to the parade spectators. [2] The throws can take the form of trinkets, candy, cookies, peanuts, panties, artificial roses, stuffed animals, doubloons, cups, hats, can coolers, Frisbees, medallion necklaces, bead necklaces of every variety, and Moon Pies. The word doubloon (from Spanish doblón, meaning "double" was a two- escudo or 32- reales Gold coin, weighing 6 A moon pie or MoonPie is a pastry which consists of two round Graham cracker Cookies with Marshmallow filling in the center dipped in chocolate [1] Mystic societies in Mobile give formal masquerade balls, known as bal masqués, which are almost always invitation only and are oriented to adults. A masquerade ball (or bal masqué) is an event which the participants attend in Costume wearing a Mask. [1] Attendance at a ball requires a strict dresscode be followed that usually involves full-length evening gowns, white tie with tails for invited guests, and masked costumes for society members. [1] The bal masqués feature dramatic entertainment, music, dancing, food, and drinks. [1] Bal masqués are usually based on a theme which is carried out through scenery, decorations, costumes, and sometimes a tableau vivant. Tableau vivant (plural tableaux vivants) is French for "living picture [1] Much of the memorabilia from these occasions can be viewed at the Mobile Carnival Museum. The Mobile Carnival Museum is a history museum that that chronicles over 300 years of Carnival and Mardi Gras in Mobile Alabama.
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History
Mobile first celebrated Carnival in 1703 when French settlers began the festivities at the Old Mobile Site. The Old Mobile Site was the location of the French settlement La Mobile and the associated Fort Louis de La Louisiane from 1702 until 1712 [3] Mobile's first informal Carnival society was organized in 1711 with the Boeuf Gras Society (Fatted Ox Society). [4] Since that time mystic societies have evolved into much more complex organizations and membership has been formed by various groups such as either co-workers, bachelors, women, African Americans, Jews, married women, married couples, gays and lesbians, or open membership, including visitors. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ NOTICE TO WOULD-BE ROMEOS ************** LGBT (also GLBT) is an initialism referring collectively to Lesbian, Gay, bisexual, and Transgender / transsexual [4] [5]
Mobile's Cowbellion de Rakin Society was the first formally organized and masked mystic society in the United States to celebrate with a parade in 1830. [3][6] The Cowbellions got their start when a cotton factor from Pennsylvania, Michael Krafft, began a parade with rakes, hoes, and cowbells. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern [6] The Cowbellions introduced horse-drawn floats to the parades in 1840 with a parade entitled, “Heathen Gods and Goddesses. [4] The Striker's Independent Society was formed in 1843 and is the oldest remaining mystic society in the United States. The Strikers Independent Society (S I S is a Mystic society founded in 1843in Mobile Alabama (during Mobile's first American periodand participated in [4] The idea of mystic societies was exported to New Orleans in 1856 when six businessmen, formerly of Mobile, gathered at a club room in New Orlean's French Quarter to organize a secret society, inspired by the Cowbellion de Rakin Society, that would observe Mardi Gras with a formal parade. They founded New Orleans' first and oldest krewe, the Mistick Krewe of Comus. The Mistick Krewe of Comus (founded in 1856 is a New Orleans Louisiana Carnival Krewe. [7] Carnival celebrations in Mobile were cancelled during the American Civil War.
Mardi Gras parades were revived by Joe Cain in 1866 when he paraded through the city streets on Fat Tuesday while costumed as a fictional Chickasaw chief named Slacabamorinico, irreverently celebrating the day in front of the occupying Union Army troops. For the football player of the same name see Joe Cain (football player. " Mardi Gras " ( French for Fat Tuesday) is the day before Ash Wednesday. The Chickasaw' are Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States (Mississippi Alabama Tennessee The Union Army was the army that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. [8] The Order of Myths, Mobile's oldest mystic society which continues to parade, was founded in 1867 and held its first parade on Mardi Gras night in 1868. [4] The Infant Mystics also begin to parade on Mardi Gras night in 1868, but later moved their parade to Lundi Gras (Fat Monday). Lundi Gras-Precursor to Mardi Gras The tradition of Rex king of the New Orleans carnival arriving by boat began in 1874 but the term "Lundi Gras" was NOT applied intil [4] The Mobile Carnival Association was formed in 1871 to coordinate the events of Mardi Gras, this year also saw the first Royal Court held with the first king of Carnival, Emperor Felix I. [4] The Comic Cowboys of Wragg Swamp were established in 1884, along with their mission of satire and free expression. [4] The Continental Mystic Crew mystic society was founded in 1890, it was Mobile's first Jewish mystic society. [3] The Order of Doves mystic society was founded in 1894 and held its first Mardi Gras ball. It was the first organized African American mystic society in Mobile. [3]
The Infant Mystics, the second oldest society that continues to parade, introduced the first electric floats to Mobile in 1929. [4] The Colored Carnival Association was founded and had its first parade in 1939, it would later be renamed the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association. [3] The Mobile Colored Carnival Association installed the first African American Mardi Gras court in 1940 with the coronation of King Elexis I and his queen. [9] The Order of Osiris, the first gay and lesbian mystic society in Mobile, held its first ball in 1980. [4] The Mobile International Carnival Ball was first held in 1995 with every known Mobile mystic society in attendance. [4] The Order of Outowners mystic society was founded in 2001 with the mission of being a more modern and inclusive society than the traditional ones in Mobile, offering ball tickets for sale to the general public. [3]
Past and present societies
Some of the mystic societies in Mobile (not all-inclusive):[3][4][9]
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References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Mardi Gras Terminology". "Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau". Retrieved on 2007-11-28. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. For the town in Argentina, see 28 de Noviembre. Events
- ^ Houston, Susan. "Mobile; It Has History", The News & Observer, News & Observer Publishing Company, (Raleigh, NC), 2007-02-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 211 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons Retrieved on 2007-05-22. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Mobile Mardi Gras Timeline". "The Museum of Mobile". Retrieved on 2007-11-14. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1533 - Conquistadors from Spain under the leadership of Francisco Pizarro arrive in Cajamarca, Inca
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "History". "Mobile Carnival Museum". Retrieved on 2007-11-17. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 284 - Diocletian is proclaimed emperor by his soldiers
- ^ "Carnival/Mobile Mardi Gras Timeline" (list of events by year), Museum of Mobile, 2001, webpage: MoM-timeline.
- ^ a b "Mardi Gras - Mobile's Paradoxical Party". "The Wisdom of Chief Slacabamorinico". Retrieved on 2007-11-18. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 326 - The old St Peter's Basilica is consecrated 1302 - Pope Boniface VIII issues the Papal bull
- ^ Arthur B. LaCour, New Orleans Masquerade: Chronicles of Carnival (Pelican Publishing 1952)
- ^ "Joe Cain Articles" (newspaper story), Joe Danborn & Cammie East, Mobile Register, 2001, webpage: CMW-history.
- ^ a b "MAMGA History". "Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association". Retrieved on 2007-11-18. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 326 - The old St Peter's Basilica is consecrated 1302 - Pope Boniface VIII issues the Papal bull
Further reading
" Mardi Gras " ( French for Fat Tuesday) is the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama is the oldest traditional Carnival celebration in America having begun in 1703over 15 years beforeDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic