Tag: Mardi Gras History
How MoonPies Became a Mobile Mardi Gras Tradition
MoonPies were first developed as a snack for coal miners and then became a beloved tradition unique to Mobile Mardi Gras.
Without Malice: The History of the Comic Cowboys
Known for their sharp wit and biting commentary, the Comic Cowboys emerge from their den each Carnival season to deliver "a different kind of Mardi Gras hoopla."
Mardi Gras Flashback: The Sirens Ball, 1962
Explore the history of The Sirens, the second-oldest active women's mystic society in Mobile.
What Happened to the Cowbellions?
Mobile’s original mystic society, which reigned supreme over celebration and mirth in 19th-century Mobile, danced into oblivion some 60 years after it was founded.
Three Generations of Mardi Gras Royalty
Discover the glitz and glamour of three generations of Mardi Gras queens.
Searching for the True Beginning of the Cowbellions
A local Mardi Gras historian digs deep into the myth and lore of the origins of the famous rake and cowbells.
Ask McGehee: Who was the British nobleman who served as king of Mobile’s Mardi...
The only British-born monarch of Mobile’s Mardi Gras was Arthur Shirley Benn. The year was 1896, but he served under the name of “Emperor of Joy” rather than King Felix.
The Mardi Gras Master of Make-Believe
John Augustus Walker changed the world of float design and made Mobile’s Mardi Gras a sight to behold.
The History of the Excelsior Band
Dating back to 1883, the Excelsior Band has been delighting Mobilians for generations and breaking barriers along the way.
Mobile’s Original Floral Parade, 1905
A blossoming 1905 photograph offers a glimpse into the history of Mobile's Floral Parade.