Mardi Gras Lingo
BALL (ball
masque, tableau ball) - a themed masked ball, where the krewe royalty is
presented to the club members
BOEUF (French word) - this is a large bull or ox, which represents
the ancient symbol of the last meal before the Lenten season of fasting
CAPTAIN - this is the leader of each Carnival organization
CARNIVAL (from Latin carnivale) - translated to be farewell to the
flesh (the feast of Epiphany) to midnight on Fat Tuesday (the day
before Lent)
COURT - this is the Mardi Gras King, Queen, maids and dukes of a Carnival
organization
DEN - this is the location where the floats are built and stored
DOUBLOONS - aluminum objects resembling coins, which bear the insignia of
the krewe on one side and the theme on the other; Rex krewe introduced the first
one in 1960
FAVOR - these are souvenirs, given to friends or guests attending the
krewe's ball by the members
FLAMBEAUX (plural) - Naphtha-fueled torches, which used to be the
only source of light along the parade routes; now, they are carried along as
part of the parade
INVITATION - this term refers to the printed request for attendance to a
Carnival ball
KING CAKE - this is an oval pastry with a small plastic doll inside; the
individual who finds the doll buys the next king cake
KREWE - this is a term with Old English flavor, first used by the Krewe
of Comus in 1857 to name a Carnival organization
LUNDI GRAS (French for Fat Monday) - this is the day before Fat
Tuesday; the day is celebrated with Rex and Zulu.
MARDI GRAS - this is the day before the beginning of Lent called Fat
Tuesday
MARDI GRAS INDIANS - these are groups of black men in New Orleans dressed
as representations of American Indians; they are outfitted with wonderful
handmade outfits, full of color.
Pralines - Purely sweet handmade creole candy, found only in New Orleans
-- a unique taste to the world.
THROWS - the items thrown from floats by the krewe members; these can be
beads, plastic cups, doubloons, and toys