Ask Blake

For 200-plus years, Mardi Gras maskers in New Orleans have turned out in costumes ranging from "grotesque" to "humorous."

Courtesy of Gloria Powers

Hey Blake,
Back in 2000, someone asked you about the first Mardi Gras. In your answer, you quoted the first description in a newspaper in 1837 that went something like this: "A lot of masqueraders were parading through our streets yesterday, and excited considerable speculation about who they were, what were their motives and what upon earth could induce them to turn out in such grotesque and outlandish habiliments."

At that time, a group of us were getting more organized with our Mardi Gras celebration and costumes. We wear "walking heads" made of papier-mache and some of us stand 10 feet tall and have moving limbs. After reading the article by you, we were so taken by the quote from 1837, we adopted it as our saying. We then went ahead and named ourselves "Krewe Of Grotesque And Outlandish Habiliments." You can see us at www.funkmychicken.com.

Can you please give the source of the quote? That would be awesome!
-- Chris Peet

Dear Chris,
I have checked out your Web site and am truly impressed by your creativity. I look forward to seeing your krewe again on Fat Tuesday. In the meantime, I would be happy to supply you with the information you desire.

When we awoke on Ash Wednesday 1837 and picked up our copy of the Daily Picayune, we read the first contemporary newspaper account of a parade. The paper, in its description, went on to say this of the masqueraders: "Some say they were Seminoles; some that it was the Zoological Institute come to town; some that it was Brown's Circus -- while others said nothing and very likely knew nothing at all about it. Boys, Negroes, fruit women and what not followed the procession -- shouting and bawling and apparently delighted with the fun or, what is more probable, anxious to fill their pockets with sugar plums, kisses, oranges &c, which were lavishly bestowed upon them by the so good-hearted jokers, whoever they were."

The story went on to report that the racket made by the masqueraders upset "some of the elderly ladies, old maids and such like." One, they said, went into "violent hysterics." Another had a "conniption fit."

However, even before we read it in the paper, folks were recording their impressions of the creative Carnival costumes and masks that appeared on the streets. Here is a description by a visitor in 1835 I'm sure you and your krewe will enjoy: "Men and boys, women and girls, bond and free, white and black, yellow and brown, exert themselves to invent and appear in grotesque, quizzical, diabolical, horrible, humorous, strange masks and disguises. Human bodies are seen with heads of beasts and birds, beasts and birds with human heads; demi-beasts and demi-fishes, snakes' heads and bodies with arms of apes; man-bats from the moon; mermaids, satyrs, beggars, monks and robbers parade and march on foot on horseback, in wagons, carts, coaches ... in rich confusion up and down the street, wildly shouting, singing, laughing, drumming, fiddling, fifing, and all throwing flour broadcast as they wend their feckless way."

So as you and your krewe prepare your "grotesque and outlandish habiliments" for the celebration of Mardi Gras 2003, perhaps you can work on outdoing the Carnival celebrants who reveled in the streets well before 1857 when Comus and his Mistick Krewe lit up the night sky. Just don't make your costumes so grotesque that you will cause "violent hysterics" or "conniption fits."

Hey Blake,
I do not know if I can take another Mardi Gras without a McKenzie's king cake. I just love the plain "brioche" type of king cake that no one can seem to duplicate. If you know of any bakery that even comes close to McKenzie's version, I would love to know.
--A McKenzie's Fan

Dear Fan,
I , too, miss McKenzie's. I guess we'll just have to muddle along. I do, however, know the answer to your question -- but it would be unfair to all of the other king cake bakers for me to tell. Why don't you do what I did? Buy a king cake from every bakery in town

Question for Blake? Email blresponse@gambitweekly.com or mail to 3923 Bienville St., 70119.

Other Stories This Week in Features:

Cover Story
Drawing From the Past

Feature Story
Throws of Passion

Shoptalk
Fashion in the Bag

Recently in Blake Pontchartrain:

New Orleans Know-It-All 02 18 03

New Orleans Know-It-All 02 11 03

New Orleans Know-It-All 02 04 03

Blake Pontchartrain Archives