, the King of Carnival, parades on Mardi Gras Day. The krewe was established in 1872 to welcome the Russian Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff Alexandrovitch. Because there was no royalty in America to welcome the duke, a local businessman dressed and acted as a king to welcome him. Because it was Mardi Gras Day, Rex (Latin for king) gave a parade as well as a ball with a queen. Later, another Rex introduced the official colors of Mardi Gras, purple, green, and gold. He did not announce what they stood for, but the next year, the School of Design (the official name for the krewe) announced in a parade that purple stood for justice, gold for power, and green for faith. Rex also introduced the doubloon to Mardi Gras. The doubloon is a colored coin and has the parade's symbol imprinted as well as the year the krewe formed. Rex's motto is Pro Bono Publico (For the Public Good). You must be fairly prominent in New Orleans to ride or be a krewe member. Rex's ball is held Mardi Gras evening in the Municipal Auditorium. Rex arrives there after the Marine Forces Reserve Band of New Orleans plays music. The Krewe of Rex also has several signature floats, including the king's float, the Boeuf Gras (fatted ox), and the Royal Barge. A live boeuf gras used to march in the parade but in the 20th Century, Rex said that it did not fit in the parade and made a papier mache float with the boeuf gras on it. Rex appeared to the public on Lundi Gras (the day before Mardi Gras) by steamboat on the Mississippi River from 1874 to 1917. The person who rode on the steamboat was not the real Rex, but the Monday King. He would act and dress as a historical character. From 1918 to 1986, the Monday Rex did not appear by steamboat. In 1987, the official Rex rode the steamboat on the Mississippi River and is still doing it. Before he arrives there is a free concert and after he arrives there are fireworks.

 

The Boeuf Gras	Bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase (the title float in 2003)	Marine Forces Reserve Band New Orleans	Louisiana 1812 (2003 parade)	A Lieutenant	City of the Red Sun (2003 parade)	LaSalle (2003 parade)