It’s Mardi Gras Day 2021; and like nearly everything else in our lives - this Mardi Gras is different.
The coronavirus pandemic led to the cancelation of all Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans and across the region. Balls were cancelled, and the official parties associated with Mardi Gras were cancelled. With all that was cancelled the one thing that the pandemic could not cancel is the spirit of Mardi Gras!
In an effort to keep the spirit of Mardi Gras alive, we did a series of Zoom video interviews with local celebrities who all shared their memories of Mardi Gras past. We talked to Saints Hall of Fame QB Archie Manning - who talked about Mardi Gras when Peyton and Eli were young and how he used his throwing ability to reach people along the route in the parade he was in, long-time WWL-TV news anchor Angela Hill - who shared memories of her first Mardi Gras after moving here as a young reporter from Texas, the legendary Chris Owens - the “Queen of Bourbon Street,” and music icon Irma Thomas - the “Soul Queen of New Orleans.” With the direct link between Mardi Gras and the season of Lent - a conversation with New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Ayman was important.
Without making politics an issue, we talked to weekend Fox News anchor Arthel Neville - who shared her memories growing up in the famous Neville family, political strategist and Fox News contributor Donna Brazile - who grew up in New Orleans and had wonderful memories of food and family along the St. Charles parade route, Kevin Griffin of Better Than Ezra shared memories of how connected the band was to Mardi Gras every year and Fred LeBlanc of Cowboy Mouth, another musical Mardi Gras party fixture in The Big Easy and others. (All of the Zoom video interviews are available at WWL.com - the Scoot page.
Talking to all of these famous people and hearing their unique memories of mardi Gras served to keep the spirit of Mardi Gras alive in this most unusual time of missing so many of the traditions that define our lives. The excitement in their voices as they told their Mardi Gras stories demonstrated the passion that is bred into every Mardi Gras season. There seemed to be no lamenting about the past as if it would never repeat - rather a great zest for the past with the expectation that next year Mardi Gras will be the best ever!
As I am writing this blog - it is 10:38 am - I parades would be rolling through the streets; and the French Quarter and The Marigny would be filling up with people in costumes - many of whom would have been partying and drinking for several hours by now.
For those who have never experienced Mardi Gras in New Orleans - I hope the celebrities sharing their memories give you a sense of what happens during the Mardi Gras season. But understand that words spoken or written can never adequately describe an experience that must be experienced to fully appreciate.
And for those of us who have survived Mardi Gras past - and the word “survive” was purposely chosen - let us keep our personal and collective memories of Mardi Gras alive in our hearts and minds and realize that the absence of Mardi Gras this year will lead to a new appreciation of this unique celebration in New Orleans.
