Mardi Gras season culminates on Fat Tuesday and with the official announcement of the season, "Lassez Les Bons Temps Roulez" - the good times roll from January 6 to Shrove Tuesday. Mardi Gras is more than a day in New Orleans. Mardi Gras is a season and a yearly way of life in New Orleans.
New Orleanians love to say - "yeah, everywhere else it's just Tuesday!" And, for good reason. In New Orleans, the banks, schools and stores shut down and folks, literally hundreds of thousands, hit the streets to revel and celebrate in the Big Easy's very own style.
And, of course, Mardi Gras is one of the things that makes New Orleans more unique that any other city in America. To experience Mardi Gras fully it more often than not is a life changing experience. Mardi Gras is the hook that reels folks into a modern culture phenom that defines the joy and revelry of New Orleans herself.
The costumes, parades, celebrations and King Cake parties come together on Mardi Gras day, but Mardi Gras is more than one day - its an entire season that builds to a crescendo in two weeks of daily and nightly parades on some of the most iconic streets in New Orleans. Mardi Gras is a city-wide party hosted by 1000's of New Orleanians who if not are riding extravagant custom made floats in historic parades are decorating their houses or themselves coinciding with the current year parade themes. It's really a sight to behold.
Since 1993 Funrock'n and Pop City have offered fashion and accessories to help everyone parade and celebrate Mardi Gras like a true New Orleanian. We love the excitement and happiness Mardi Gras brings. Over the years we've shipped custom shirts nationally and internationally to folks that have created their own celebrations after experiencing a real New Orleans' Mardi Gras.
As carnival season kicks off this year after a Covid induced hiatus New Orleanians and Mardi Gras aficionados are more than eager to hit the streets . .. there are a few cool facts that we wanted to share with you to get you into the spirit of carnival as we kick off 2022.
In 2022 as in every year, Mardi Gras officially begins with the 12th Night Celebration on January 6th also known as the Feast of the Epiphany, marked as the Catholic celebration of the wise men visiting the Christ Child. And it's with this somber occasion and two iconic, traditional parades "roll" and officially mark the beginning of Carnival season in New Orleans this year and every year in modern carnival time.
The first of the two noted parades that New Orleanians gather to experience is of course the Phunny Phorty Phellows ( www.phunnyphortyphellows.com) who will mark this year's kick off, their 40th year (although the parade originally took place from 1878-1898), with the now traditional streetcar ride uptown. Phunny Phorty Phellows has the auspices to launch Carnival city-wide. It's a small group of anonymous revelers that throw beads to gatherers along the traditional parade route of St. Charles Avenue.
And, right outside Pop City on Decatur Street the magnificent Joan of Arc
Parade also marks 12th Night as it coincides with St. Joan's birthday, The Joan of Arc parade was founded in 2008 and celebrates the "Maid of Orleans" and her legacy with a final stop at the golden Joan of Arc statute in the heart of the French Market, a gift from France to New Orleans in 1950's. The parade replete with horses, a St. Joan look alike and knights and maidens walk the parade route - it's other worldly.
From January 6th through 11:59PM on March 1, 2022's official end to Mardi Gras, New Orleanians will gather with visitors from all over the world will once again to experience the beauty of New Orleans, Mardi Gras parades and of course eat our traditional King Cake which has become an event unto itself.
To really be a part of Mardi Gras there is a need to dress the part. An entire culture of fashion and style from t-shirts or fancy dress in the official Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold dictate the dress decorum. Some do a little many do a lot - truly the Mardi Gras spirit is contagious.
Pop City and Funrock'n have you covered when it comes to Mardi Gras fashion. From tinsel jackets and beaded earrings with New Orleans icons to custom tshirts and costume accessories you can shop with us every day either online at www.nolapopcity.com or at our 940 Decatur Street location.
See ya soon and email us with any questions. And, mark your calendar for January 6 this year and every year - it's Mardi Gras time.