Traditional Mardi Gras Costumes
Mardi Gras is a carnival taking place in February of every year just before the beginning of Lent. In the United States, it is most associated with the city of New Orleans, though it takes place in every part of the Catholic world. Mardi Gras celebrants often wear masks and costumes as a traditional part of the carnival. The practice goes back to ancient times, and its trappings can still be seen in the outfits worn today. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
History
-
Mardi Gras began in second century, when Romans celebrated the god Lupercus through public celebration . Medieval lords used it as a means of conscripting and honoring new knights into their service. It came to America in 1699, and New Orleans hosted its first Mardi Gras celebration in 1837. Costumes and outfits were always associated with the celebration, as Romans donned masks and visages of supernatural creatures to commemorate the occasion.
Purpose
-
On their most basic level, traditional Mardi Gras costumes served as symbols of celebration: a chance to throw off the shackles of ordinary life and acknowledge the spirit of the proceedings. More specifically, they often emulated the costumes of authority figures, as a way of mocking or poking fun at them. Masks were worn to disguise each person’s identity, giving them license for wilder behavior and sparing them from repercussions if they satirized the wrong public figures.
-
Krewes
-
New Orleans Mardi Gras were dominated by krewes: socials organizations who built the floats and helped organize the festivities. They also served as social clubs and celebrated Mardi Gras by hosting elaborate costume balls. Their costumes reflect whatever theme has been adopted by that year’s Mardi Gras, and the balls ended with the presentation of the “monarchs and court of the evening,” arrayed in royal finery.
Aspects
-
Traditional Mardi Gras colors are purple, gold and green, and Mardi Gras costumes often feature them prominently. Tradition holds that Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff chose the colors--symbolic of his house--while visiting New Orleans in 1872. Traditional costumes also symbolize excess, so they feature prominent accessories such as jewels, feathers and beads. The latter are often worn around the neck or tossed from balconies by revelers.
Types
-
Contemporary Mardi Gras costumes embrace all sorts of themes, but the traditional outfits still serve to send up the cultural elites. Tall hats called “capuchons” mocked the style of the aristocracy, while priestly robes could be used to satirize members of the clergy. Some costumes also matched figures from the Venetian Commedia Dell’Arte, such as Pantalone and Harlequin. Mythic figures such as satyrs and devils also appeared in Mardi Gras celebrations.
-
References
- Photo Credit mardi gras image by Edward Cooper from Fotolia.com
