Mardi Gras on the Gulf Coast

Mardi Gras is tradition that goes back to 1703. It is a celebration that precedes Lent. Mardi Gras day always falls on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. For nearly 300 years, Mobilians have observed this pre-Lenten celebration.

Although the first observance of the celebration actually occurred just outside of Mobile at 27 Mile Bluff in 1703. The carnival continued to be observed in later years in the city of Mobile by settlers bringing the tradition from their homeland in France. The celebration of Mardi Gras gives Mobilians a chance to celebrate for two weeks and to enjoy the pageantry and finery of the balls given throughout the city during this time.

Although Mardi Gras was first celebrated in 1703 in Mobile, parading society began a few years later. A Mobilian named Michael Krafft was responsible for the very first one. Krafft had earlier moved to Mobile from Pennsylvania. He was celebrating the season with some friends in downtown Mobile. Following the meal and perhaps a few drinks as well, Krafft and a few friends decided to borrow a few farm implements that were conveniently located on a sidewalk display in front of a hardware store. With these implements, cowbells and other noisemakers, this band of merry fellows proceeded to parade through the streets of Mobile and thus the parading tradition was born. This would be Mobile's first parading society and it was appropriately named the Cowbellion de Rakin Society.

With the Civil War, the practice of parading was halted until 1866 when Mobile was occupied by Union Forces. Around this time, a group of gentlemen, led by Joseph Stillwell Cain, revived the tradition. A coal wagon was commandeered for the impromptu parade. The group came up with some impromptu costumes, and dressed as Chickasaw Indian chief Slacabamorinico and various Indian braves, they paraded through the streets of Mobile. The irony of the choice of costumes was not lost on the Union troops. Chief Slacabamorinico had never been defeated in battle and it is said that the reason the Chief was chosen was to thumb their noses at the Union soldiers. The parade reminded the people of Mobile how much they had enjoyed the parades and the tradition has continued. In Mobile, Joseph Cain is honored with his own special day, Joe Cain day that is celebrated the Sunday before Fat Tuesday. It begins with a procession of "Merry Widows" each dressed in heavily veiled mourning attire. These widows "bicker" about which was the favorite wife of Mr. Cain. The procession ends at the actual gravesite of Cain in downtown Mobile.

Although the tradition began in Mobile, it was quickly adopted by the residents of New Orleans, Louisiana as well. Today many towns up and down the Gulf Coast have developed their own versions of Mardi Gras on various scales. Should the crowds of the larger cities prove too overwhelming, one can always enjoy the festivities in smaller towns such as Gulf Shores, Dauphin Island and Fairhope.


Ronnie Tanner is a contributing writer at Toomey's Mardi Gras. He writes about Mardi Gras Beads and other industry specific topics.