Cousin James' article Follow the link for the pictures mentioned. -----Original Message----- From: terry James Akers article with Teche News this week http://www.techetoday.com/content/mardi-gras-goes-back-long-way-st-martinville ================================================ Mardi Gras goes back a long way in St. Martinville Pre-Lenten celebration springs from direct connection to New Orleans Posted February 9th, 2010 COAT AND TIE DE RIGUEUR for adult male parade-goers in 1916. The top of the Iphis Fournet float can be seen in this photo taken from the balcony of the J.B. Ferran Building, now La Maison Restaurant and Alligator Bar. St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church is in the background. St. Martinville – Local historian James Akers maintains that St. Martinville was one jump behind New Orleans but two jumps ahead of everybody else in its public celebration of Mardi Gras. His research has exumed a proclamation by Polichinelle, a masked character originating in 17th century European stage shows, announcing a costumed and masked ball at the Duchamp Opera House on Feb. 10, 1877. Rendered in French, the proclamation has been carefully translated into English by staff at the Acadian Memorial here, and it reveals a heritage directly connected to New Orleans. “Rex Carnvalis,” writing from the “Imperial Palace” in New Orleans, announces his intention to visit his “faithful subjects” in the “new province of the Teche.” Rex charges the masked chavlier with setting up the ball at the Duchamp Opera House. According to Akers, subsequent balls and parades were sponsored by various civic and fraternal organizations over the years. The celebratin was suspended for the first decade or so of the 20th century because of flu epidemics and an economic downturn, Akers said. It resumed briefly and then was suspended again for World War I. “In 1947, the newly organized Rotary Club, with the late Leo J. Bulliard as president, gave impetus to another series of masked balls as pre-Lenten celebrations, and that organization has continued to sponsor the event,” said Akers.
just checkin in to let yall know all went well.........was truly an eye opening experience ayieeeeeeeeeee moi --- On Thu, 2/11/10, pleblan@aim.com <pleblan@aim.com> wrote: From: pleblan@aim.com <pleblan@aim.com> Subject: [ACADIAN] Mardi Gras goes back a long way in St. Martinville To: acadian@rootsweb.com Date: Thursday, February 11, 2010, 5:25 PM Cousin James' article Follow the link for the pictures mentioned. -----Original Message----- From: terry James Akers article with Teche News this week http://www.techetoday.com/content/mardi-gras-goes-back-long-way-st-martinville ================================================ Mardi Gras goes back a long way in St. Martinville Pre-Lenten celebration springs from direct connection to New Orleans Posted February 9th, 2010 COAT AND TIE DE RIGUEUR for adult male parade-goers in 1916. The top of the Iphis Fournet float can be seen in this photo taken from the balcony of the J.B. Ferran Building, now La Maison Restaurant and Alligator Bar. St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church is in the background. St. Martinville – Local historian James Akers maintains that St. Martinville was one jump behind New Orleans but two jumps ahead of everybody else in its public celebration of Mardi Gras. His research has exumed a proclamation by Polichinelle, a masked character originating in 17th century European stage shows, announcing a costumed and masked ball at the Duchamp Opera House on Feb. 10, 1877. Rendered in French, the proclamation has been carefully translated into English by staff at the Acadian Memorial here, and it reveals a heritage directly connected to New Orleans. “Rex Carnvalis,” writing from the “Imperial Palace” in New Orleans, announces his intention to visit his “faithful subjects” in the “new province of the Teche.” Rex charges the masked chavlier with setting up the ball at the Duchamp Opera House. According to Akers, subsequent balls and parades were sponsored by various civic and fraternal organizations over the years. The celebratin was suspended for the first decade or so of the 20th century because of flu epidemics and an economic downturn, Akers said. It resumed briefly and then was suspended again for World War I. “In 1947, the newly organized Rotary Club, with the late Leo J. Bulliard as president, gave impetus to another series of masked balls as pre-Lenten celebrations, and that organization has continued to sponsor the event,” said Akers. ------------------------------- To check our Archive http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/acadian/ ------------------------------- To subscribe to the list, please send an email to ACADIAN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'subscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message. You will receive a confirmation e-mail to try & stop "machine" enrollment spam. Give it the "Name" you would like us to call you. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ACADIAN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message