Mardi gras in the south

MARDI GRAS IN THE SOUTH

Well, it's that time of year, again, here in The South-- at least that part of The South originally settled by the French. This, of course, includes Louisiana, Mississippi, AND for those of you who did not know it, most of Alabama. In fact, Mobile, Alabama, is the birthplace of Mardi Gras having the record of holding the longest annual celebrations in the United States.

The Mobile celebrations were first held in 1703, but New Orleans did not hold their first until sometime after 1718 when it was founded. You see,the French kept moving their capital of Louisiana, which include the coastal areas of what is now Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, westward.

First it was Mobile, then Biloxi. Mississippi, finally to New Orleans, but the real "Home of Mardi Gras" is Mobile, Alabama.

We here in Demopolis, Alabama, where my family and I live, also has a French heritage, having been settled by some of Napoleon's officers after his army was disbanded. And Mardi Gras is very big in Demopolis.

Tonight,we hold our Mardi Gras in historic Lyon Hall. For those of you who do not know it, Lyon Hall is where playwright Lillian Hellman's parents lived and raised her. Hellman's award winning play-turned-movie was based on life in The South around the Civil War.

Hellman's highly acclaimed 1939 play, The Little Foxes, starred Tallulah Bankhead, of the influential Bankhead family of Mobile, Alabama, and it made the silver screen in 1941 starring Bette Davis. Some of you might remember the screen play.

Elizabeth and Arthur Ogden -- 2013 Demopolis Mardi Gras King and Queen

At any rate, my beautiful wife, Elizabeth, and I (returning Demopolis Mardi Gras Royalty) will don our regalia, she in the gown she made and I in de rigueur, which means white tie and tails for men, and attend the Demopolis Mardi Gras Ball once again. We were Prince and Princess in 2012 and King and Queen in 2013 and 2014. I love it!

I do so wish all my WA Network could attend...perhaps some year as all y'all are spread about the globe. But I WILL be thinkin' of y'all as we raise our glasses of champagne at the annual toast. And as they say in French (perhaps Cajun French) laissez les bons temps rouler or "let the good times roll!"

Arthur

24 February 2017

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