Mardi Gras, Rushed

Instead of its usual start, Carnival was celebrated on the eleventh Day of Christmas in Mobile, Alabama this year. Still lingering under the Yuletide of the Christmas Season, residents of Mobile are getting their costumes and floats ready for the celebration.

Although no reports have been made on why the unusual rush to start Mardi Gras this year on the streets of Mobile, but the residents and participants are already parading the streets of the area.

The first parade rolled out on Saturday, January 5^th. The Krewe De la Dauphin opened the season with a Holiday theme; each float carrying out the theme with representations of holidays ranging from Independence Day to Halloween, and then back around the calendar. I'm getting excited like a child on Christmas Day about the many different themes, and the excitement to see how the floats actually presented the different holidays.

I remember Mardi Gras being celebrated during the late part of February in Mobile. This may have been a little more than five years ago; the reason I remember is because I have a friend that has a birthday on March 4.....wait, I also have a cousin, Hank Jr with a birthday on March 4^th as well. But anyway, we would always go to Mobile to "Joe Cain Day" for her birthday. And with this unusual early start, I wonder if people are going to be too tired to participate.

The activities for Carnival got the ball rolling on Saturday, January 5^th , one day earlier than the traditional celebration of the event in the streets of Mobile and will continue until Tuesday, February 5^th for Mardi Gras. Reports states nearly forty-five parades scheduled; floats will be carrying members of the Pharaoh's Mystic Society, Mobile Mystics, Order of LaShe, Knights of Mobile, MLK Monday Mystics, and of course a float designated to honor Joe Cain. This parade is scheduled for Sunday, February 3^rd at 2:30 p.m., CST.

Speaking of times, some parades start as early as 10 in the morning, and as late as 10 at night. WOW. A whole day of parades! I could lose my job from an event such as this, lol.

Even with the rush, parades are getting their celebration on. As far as records goes, the calendar for future Mardi Gras will be returning to the late parts of February again; celebrations will begin on February 24^th next year; February 16^th in 2009; and on February 8^th in 2010....Is it just me, or does it seem as if the times are going backwards? According to these reports, the dates may be returning to the late February, but they soon return back to an earlier date as well. Hmmm....

Either way, with these future parade schedules, residents of Mobile and surrounding areas have made it clear that Mardi Gras will stay home.