Unless you are a native Mobilian (Someone born and raised in
Mobile, Alabama), you probably think of New Orleans when you think of Mardi
Gras. However, Mardi Gras originated in 1703 at Twenty Seven Mile Bluff, which
was the first settlement in Mobile, Alabama. This is where it all began.
Mardi Gras occurs on the Tuesday
before Ash Wednesday every year. The celebrations last for about a month and
include various parades, balls, and ceremonies.
Behind the scenes experienced by
the general public is a very significant tradition upheld by Mobile every year.
I am referring to the Mardi Gras Court, as orchestrated by the Mobile Carnival
Association. Every year, there are Ladies of the Court, their Knights, as well
as a King and Queen.
This year, I was privileged to be a
part of the experience of being in the Mobile Mardi Gras Court when I was asked
to be a Knight. It was one of the best times of my life, and it opened my eyes
to everything involved beyond seeing the court ride in the parades.
Although the Mardi Gras
Celebrations last for a month or so out of the year, the Court’s events begin
during the week of Thanksgiving Day with the Camellia Ball. This stretches the
Mardi Gras experience over a three month period for members and potential
members of the court.
The Camellia Ball is where the
initial presentation of the current year’s debutantes by their families occurs.
Each debutante is presented by her father to all invitees of this celebration.
Escorts are chosen by the debutantes to be their date for the evening. Single
gentlemen from Mobile are also invited to be on the “Stag List.” This gives the
debutantes numerous options when making the decision of who to request to be
their Knight.
From the time of the Camellia Ball to
the Friday before Fat Tuesday, there are numerous association balls, cocktails,
luncheons, and parties for the debutantes to attend with their chosen dates. I
do not exaggerate when I say there was something almost every single weekend.
These are times that the debutantes get to know one another, as well as the
pool of eligible bachelors that may wind up being their winning choice for
their Knight in the Court.
In December, there is the
Nutcracker Ball. This event is a major part of the Debutante experience for
those ladies not participating in the Fat Tuesday festivities. On New Year’s
Eve, the debutantes are presented once more at the Strikers Ball. Other
associations also extend invitations to the Ladies of the Court prior to Fat
Tuesday weekend.
Beginning on the Friday before Fat
Tuesday, the celebrations officially begin full force for members of the Court.
That evening, we, The Court, had to rehearse for the Coronation of King Felix
and his Queen the following evening. On
that night, the Old Court New Court Party is hosted at the Mobile Carnival
Museum. Invitees include the Court for the current and previous year, as well
as those members from twenty five and fifty years ago.
On Saturday morning, we were all
checked into the Battleship Inn on the Causeway by our parents, where they were
to leave us until Tuesday evening. This is where the extreme celebrating
begins. The Pineapple Suite of the hotel is rented by the members to be used as
a hospitality room, AKA the bar. Once settled into our rooms, it seemed only
right to have a drink. That afternoon, dressed in our Coronation outfits, we,
The Knights, loaded on a bus and went to retrieve the queen at her home. We
then proceeded from the Queen’s home to the Convention Center, where the
Coronation took place. The Ladies and Knights of the Court were presented, and
the King and Queen were crowned. Following the Coronation was the King’s
Supper. The trains were displayed, amazing food and drink was served, followed
by dancing and celebration by all who attended.
When Sunday rolled around, we were
all again bused downtown to attend the Order of Myths block party for the
remainder of the day. Once we returned from the party, we were dressed and
ready for the Knight’s Party that night. An open bar tab at Moe’s BBQ and live
band made for a very entertaining night for the members of The Court.
Monday morning began with a boat
ride to the Isle of Joy for the Knights. Once again, drinks were served. After
arriving back at the convention center, King Felix was presented with a key to
the city by Mayor Sam Jones. The King and knights then proceeded to load the
floats to ride in the King’s parade. There is no other experience that compares
to riding in a Mardi Gras parade. Once the parade was over, the Knights made an
appearance at the Queen’s Luncheon where we presented our Ladies with large,
extravagant stuffed animals.
Once back at the hotel, we got into
our Coronation costumes and loaded up again to attend the Infant Mystics ball.
Once again the Debutantes were presented by members of the IMs before being
escorted out by the Knights.
The morning of Fat Tuesday began
with a reception at the Mobile Carnival Museum. Food and drinks were served
before we once again loaded up on the floats for the King’s Parade. At the
conclusion of the parade, we went to the civic center for the Knights of
Revelry reception.
Following the reception, the
parents of the Court members checked us out of the hotel to conclude our Mardi Gras
experience. Once again, this was one of the best times of my life. Everywhere
we went we were escorted and treated like actual royalty. This is an experience
that only a limited group of Mobilians are privileged to experience and can
only be had in one place… The beautiful Mobile, Alabama, where Mardi Gras was
born.
