PATI AND LEROY'S TRAVELS: MARDI GRAS IN MOBILE, AL

Did you know that Mobile is the birthplace of America's original Mardi Gras? Mardi Gras originated in 1703 in Mobile, AL. It was revived after the Civil War when citizen Joe Cain, fed up with post-war misery, led an impromptu parade down city streets.

Down South, as soon as Epiphany is over, Mardi Gras celebrations begin. Southerners not only celebrate Mardi Gras, they succumb to it. Doorways are decorated, wreaths are hung and beads are worn. The royal colors of Mardi Gras are purple, which symbolizes justice, green symbolizes faith, and gold symbolizes power.

Celebrations are concentrated for about two weeks before and through Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Many days, especially in Mobile, AL and New Orleans, LA, there are several large parades.

Mardi Gras King Cake

King Cake is a sweet, circular pastry twisted into a ring and associated with Mardi Gras. It is decorated with colored icing and sprinkles. Every king cake contains a trinket, usually a small figurine in the shape of a baby. Whoever finds the baby in their slice of cake gets to be "King" for a day.

Callahan's Irish Social Bar

We began our Mardi Gras day of celebration at Callahan's Bar with Bloody Mary's and pickled okra at 10:00 in the morning.

Interviewing for the Skeleton Krewe

Everyone finds their way to the street party just a block or so from the 1940's Irish social club with a drink in each hand.

Arrival of Cain's Merry Widows

Joe Cain Day is celebrated the Sunday before Fat Tuesday. A busload of the mystic society of "Cain's Merry Widows" arrive just before the street party is over. They all dress in black mourning clothes with veils and exit the bus to the porch of Joe Cain's house where they offer a toast to their "beloved Joe" and argue over which widow was his favorite. The black beads handed out by the widows are the most coveted Mardi Gras beads.

One of the Merry Widows Exiting

The goodies, called "throws" from the parade floats are usually necklaces of plastic beads, doubloons with Krewe logos, stuffed animals, Frisbees, moon pies, and cups which are referred to as New Orleans dinnerware.