Joe Cain: The Man Who Brought Mardi Gras to Mobile, Alabama

Although many people incorrectly celebrate it, Mardi Gras is actually the finale of the Carnival. Carnival is reported to be a celebration beginning twelve (12) days after Christmas, which is January 6^th, and ending on Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday").

In the small town that I lived in while in Southwest Alabama (Washington County), the Mardi Gras celebrations were always just before Ash Wednesday and Fat Tuesday was the last and most important day! This was the day the area gave honor to Joe Cain, naming it "Joe Cain Day". Legends have it that Joe Cain was the one person to bring the Mardi Gras celebrations back to Mobile after having it cancelled during the American Civil War. But all that was changed when Joe Cain paraded the streets of Mobile on Fat Tuesday in 1866.

Dressed as a fictional Chickasaw chief named Slacabamorinico ("slaka-BAM orin-ah-CO"), Joe Cain made a statement that day as he paraded the streets in his costume, being that of a native skirt and feathered headdress; giving a reported 'slap in the face' as an insult to the then occupying Union Army troops, signifying that the Chickasaw had never been defeated in war. More records prove that this not only revived Carnival with Mardi Gras in Mobile, but it later found Cain joined by other Confederate veterans to parade that following year; some including Thomas Burke, Rutledge Parham, John Payne, John Bohanan, Barney O'Rourke, and John Maguire accompanied Joe Cain as "Old Slac"- (Wikipedia). Their joining together formed a group, and soon became the "Lost Cause Minstrels" of Mobile. And like people say: 'The rest is history'!

Generally for the finale, "Joe Cain Day", residents of Southwest Alabama and surrounding areas' participants can be seen wearing T-shirts with 'Joe Cain' of 'Joe Cain Day' written across the front, back, or even a festive image added somewhere with the event and date stamped across it; I have seen so much as far as coffee mugs, hats, posters and banners giving honor to the one man who brought the celebration back home. The area really takes pride and honor to this festive celebration; I mean, you have to believe me-the schools actually close for at least two days for these festivities in the area I lived in.

The fact being that the residents of that area are truly celebrating a festive moment and sharing the honor of keeping the Carnival alive at the home of Mardi Gras.