Glossary
- bouefgras- a French word meaning fatted ox or bull, Boeuf Gras is a symbol of the last meat to be eaten before Lent begins. There used to be a live bull in the Rex parade, but it was taken out in 1909. In 1959 a paper mache’ version appeared and is still parading for the crowds.
- carnival - a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus and public street party, generally during the carnival season.
- doubloon - (a.k.a. drachma’s) They are little coin shaped objects telling youth’s theme and that year of the parade and that ball for particular.
- epiphany - “a Christian festival, observed on January 6, commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi”
- flambeaux- (Keepers of the Light) Flambeaux originated a century and a half ago to light the floats in night parades.
- jester - A jester or fool is a specific type of clown mostly associated with the Middle Ages. Jesters typically wore brightly colored clothing in a motley pattern. Their hats, sometimes called the cap ’n bells, cockscomb (obsolete coxcomb), were especially distinctive; made of cloth, they were floppy with three points (liliripes) each of which had a jingle bell at the end. The three points of the hat represent the asses' ears and tail worn by jesters in earlier times. Other things distinctive about the jester were his incessant laughter and his mock scepter known as a bauble or marotte.
- kingcake - is a ring of twisted bread similar topped with icing or sugar, usually coloured purple, green, and gold (the traditional Carnival colors). Some have different filin flavors, but the original is cinnamon. A plastic baby is also found inside.
- krewe - a private social club that that is known for sponsoring balls and parades as part of the Mardi Gras festivities.
- Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler - French for "let the good times roll".
- Mardi Gras - (French for "Fat Tuesday") is the day before Ash Wednesday. It is a celebration that is held just before the beginning of the Christian liturgical season of Lent.
- parade- an organized procession of people along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by floats. Sometimes large lighter-than-air balloons or vehicles with complex shapes accompinned them. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind.
- reveler- a celebrant who shares in a noisy party
- twelfth night - (or Kings’ Day) On January 6 celebrating the arrival of the three kings at Jesus’ birthplace. In most places, all this does is end the Christmas season; but in New Orleans, it starts the Carnival season.
- zydeco - popular music of southern Louisiana that combines tunes of French origin with elements of Caribbean music and the blues and that features guitar, washboard, and accordion