Your Place for a Taste of New Orleans.

Mardi Gras is February 5, 2008

The New Orleans Mardi Gras Glossary:

Algiers and /or Algiers Point
Algiers is the part of the city that is directly on the opposite side of the French Quarter. Algiers is located on the Westbank of New Orleans.

The oldest part of Algiers is Algiers Point which is across the river from the French Quarter. Algiers Point has been connected with the foot of Canal Street across the river by the Canal Street Ferry since 1827.

Anodize
Anodize refers to the dipping process in which plain gray aluminum coins are dipped into color to make different colored Mardi Gras doubloons. Each colors cost different amounts of money. Red & Black have more value as opposed to the plain anodized Mardi Gras doubloons.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is the day after Mardi Gras and is the first day of Lent. Ash Wednesday usually occurs forty-six days before Easter. Ash Wednesday falls on different dates from year to year, according to the date of Easter; it can fall as early as February 4 or as late as March 10. On Ash Wednesday, all celebrations and festivities cease, and the Catholic attend church to prepare for Lent.

The priest, minister, or in some cases officiating layperson marks the forehead of each participant with black ashes, in the shape of a cross, which the worshiper traditionally retains until washing it off after sundown.

Banquette

In New Orleans sidewalks are referred to as banquettes. The French used this term when the Vieux Carre' was being constructed. However, most New Orleans locals now refer to them as sidewalks.

Balcony

New Orleans balconies are usually platforms that project from the wall of the club or building. The balconies are usually uncovered and are designed for tourist and locals to view the city, people walking by on Bourbon Street, and even to view the parades in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Ball

A New Orleans Ball is also known as a "bal masque" or a "tableau ball". Which refers to a Formal masked party which is thrown by Krewe organizations. The Carnival organization usually has a specific theme the krewe follows It is also traditional for presenting the krewe's royalty. Parade Krewes usually hold their balls right after their parade. However this is not always the case.

Beads

Mardi Gras Beads are plastic beads that are thrown from parade floats to the crowd. Beads were made of glass until the 1960's. Then they realized it was much more expensive to produce these type of beads as well as too dangerous. So the plastic beads we all know today were produced.