I bet you think that Mardi Gras started in New Orleans.

It didn’t.

New Orleans would like you to believe that and yes, they have some fantastic floats and parades, which combined with debauchery, nakedness, and alcohol, can be a lot of fun. But Mardi Gras actually started in Mobile, Alabama and the first celebration was in 1703. Mobile actually takes Mardi Gras very seriously and last year Charlotte had an ENTIRE WEEK off of school for it.

*head in hands*

Thankfully this year she just has a few days off which I can handle.

And Chris joined a Krewe! He has some friends at work on one and was invited in and he has been really enjoying it. As a result we are headed to the Mystic Stripers Society Ball in about a week and bringing a couple friends. I am looking forward to the parades, masks, moon pies, and ball gowns. I am also looking forward to the night away from the kids.

And goodness knows I have already eaten my weight in King Cake this year.

Today we were lucky enough to get a sneak peek of the Mystic Striper Society floats when they opened it up for viewing for all the family members. The theme is “Mascots: Southern Style” and I was VERY impressed with them! That parade is going to be fantastic so I encourage you to attend if you live in or around Mobile.

(Charlotte modeling a mardi gras mask today)

In case you are local and need to know, here are the parades for Mobile.

Mobile Mardi Gras Parades 2013

Friday, Jan. 25
6:30 p.m. – Conde Cavaliers

Saturday, Jan. 26 (Senior Bowl)

Noon – Bayport Parading Society
2 p.m. – Order of the Rolling River
7 p.m. – Pharaohs
7:30 p.m. – Conde Explorers

Sunday, Jan. 27
2 p.m. – Krewe de la Heron Lakes

Wednesday, Jan. 30
12:30 p.m. – Mystics of Ashland Place

Thursday, Jan. 31
6:30 p.m. – Order of Polka Dots

Friday, Feb. 1
6:30 p.m. – Order of Inca
6:45 p.m. – Apollo’s Mystic Ladies

Saturday, Feb. 2
10 a.m. – Hickory Ridge Kids Krewe
2 p.m. – Mobile Mystics
2:30 p.m. – Mobile Mystical Revelers
6:30 p.m. – Maids of Mirth
6:45 p.m. – Knights of Ecor Rouge
7 p.m. – Butterfly Maidens
7:30 p.m. – Krewe of Marry Mates

Sunday, Feb. 3 (Super Bowl Sunday)
2 p.m. – Mystics of Children
6:30 p.m. – Neptune’s Daughters
7 p.m. – Order of Isis

Monday, Feb. 4
6:30 p.m. – Order of Venus

Tuesday, Feb. 5
6:30 p.m. – Order of LaShe’s

Thursday, Feb. 7

6:30 p.m. – Mystic Stripers

Friday, Feb. 8
  6:30 p.m. – Crewe of Columbus
6:30 p.m. – Mystical Order of Mirams
6:45 p.m. – Maids of Jubilee
6:45 p.m. – Mystic Order of Persephone

Saturday, Feb. 9
11 a.m. – Foley parade
Noon – Floral Parade, Knights of Mobile, Mobile Mystical Ladies, Order of Angels
Noon – Krewe of Goats Parade
Noon – Mystic Revelers
2 p.m. – Krewe of Mullet Mates
5:30 p.m. – Mystics of Pleasure
6 p.m. – Mystics of Time
6:45 p.m. – Shadow Barons

Sunday, Feb. 10 (Joe Cain Day)
2:29 p.m. – Loyal Order of the Firetruck
2:30 p.m. – Joe Cain Procession
5 p.m. – Le Krewe de Bienville
Monday, Feb. 11 (Lundi Gras)
10 a.m. – Krewe of Kids
Noon – King Felix III and Floral parades
1 p.m. – Prichard Mardi Gras Association Parade
3 p.m. – MLK Business and Civic Organization
3:30 p.m. – MLK Monday Mystics
4 p.m. – Northside Merchants
6:30 p.m. – Infant Mystics
6:45 p.m. – Order of Mystic Magnolias

Tuesday, Feb. 12 (Fat Tuesday)
10 a.m. – Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Association
10:30 a.m. – Order of Athena
12:30 p.m. – Knights of Revelry
1:30 p.m. – Comic Cowboys
2 p.m. – Orange Beach Parade
2 p.m. – MAMGA Mammoth Parade
6 p.m. – Order of Myths

~Trisha