tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post5715044796120782159..comments2023-08-14T10:44:59.007-04:00Comments on Novel Spaces: Mardi Gras Basics for WritersKeVin K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14792797517571690942noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-89783485025971578702012-02-21T19:27:23.430-05:002012-02-21T19:27:23.430-05:00Thanks, LYNN, for your additional comments.Thanks, LYNN, for your additional comments.Shauna Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871768714926149114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-20186486726035091942012-02-21T18:27:51.141-05:002012-02-21T18:27:51.141-05:00I live in Baton Rouge, about 60 miles northwest of...I live in Baton Rouge, about 60 miles northwest of New Orleans.<br /><br />State and local offices in Louisiana are closed on Mardi Gras day.<br /><br /> The Krewes in Baton Rouge (like elsewhere) have elaborate balls, costumes and parties. We also have the Krewe of Mutts, a parade composed of pets and their loving owners. The Spanish Town Parade is huge, and irreverently pokes fun at politicians, businesses and just about anybody. The most popular feature of that parade is the lawn mower brigade. Lafayette and New Roads, LA have huge parades as well.<br /><br />I haven't gone to a parade in a long time. I do have a Zulu coconut and beads, oh and a Zulu wand. So I'm ready in case I decide to get wild and dance in the streets on Mardi Gras in the future! Wait, I have to get a Mardi Gras unbrella also.Lynn Emeryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10428256353142864469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-30304669744400693112012-02-21T17:15:31.474-05:002012-02-21T17:15:31.474-05:00CHARLES, we don't like crowds either. We tend ...CHARLES, we don't like crowds either. We tend to go to the smaller parades and to watch them from near the start of the parade route. Doing so had other benefits besides fewer people: better views, fresher costumes, fewer delays, more throws. We used to walk to the very start of the Rex parade and even that one, despite being a madhouse at its end, was not very crowded and was almost all families.<br /><br />LIANE AND JEWEL, it's so interesting to hear how your Carnivals differ from ours. New Orleans used to be very much a Caribbean city, before good roads and railroads liked it more firmly to the rest of the U.S. Many of our customs came from the Caribbean, particularly Haiti after people fled its revolution for New Orleans.Shauna Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871768714926149114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-27142919006959218992012-02-21T12:57:25.821-05:002012-02-21T12:57:25.821-05:00We don't have Mardi Gras in St. Kitts, but car...We don't have Mardi Gras in St. Kitts, but carnival. It is around Christmas, from December 24th to January 2nd. The format is similar to most other Caribbean Carnivals with parties, parades, street dances, calypso competitions and beauty pageants.<br /><br />It's been a while since I've visited around Carnival season, but the changes aren't all that great. "From SKB with Love" my novella in "Holiday Brides" is set in St. Kitts around carnival time.<br /><br />With voodoo (obeah), Mardi Gras (carnival) and mostly warm temperatures, I guess New Orleans and the Caribbean islands have quite a bit in common.Jewel Amethysthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14813773386476356666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-82941591196627243752012-02-21T11:37:14.989-05:002012-02-21T11:37:14.989-05:00Here in Trinidad we just call it Carnival. It'...Here in Trinidad we just call it Carnival. It's a huge fete and there are many similarities with the New Orleans Mardi Gras. The differences are fascinating, though. For one thing, the Carnival here has evolved away from the enormous floats of yesteryear and even the largest costumes are constructed of light material that one person can wear/carry. <br /><br />The big parades take place in the cities and I don't participate; where I live tucked away in a valley miles from the action the Carnival days are the most peaceful of the year. No one to be seen, nothing to be heard but birdsong and wind in the trees. Bliss.Liane Spicerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05035607144500219524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-48881442769930646732012-02-21T10:55:17.847-05:002012-02-21T10:55:17.847-05:00Although I appreciate the rich traditions associat...Although I appreciate the rich traditions associated with it, Mardi Gras is so crowded that I no longer go now that my son is grown. I enjoyed it early on, but I prefer sitting on my deck watching the birds these days. I do reap the benefits of being off from school for it, though!Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.com