Mardi Gras Roots

Mardi Gras Roots

Naughty N’awlins has roots deeply ingrained in Mardi Gras. Initially, our goal was to create a Mardi Gras experience, but not during carnival season. We wanted an adults-only event, with costumes, beads, masks, and different theme nights, but during a time when it is off-season, when rooms are less expensive, and it is not total chaos.

So, in 1999, we started our first Naughty N’awlins, and it’s been an amazing 25 years of letting the good times roll with many New Orleans traditions. Below, we list a few Mardi Gras traditions and how we still carry on these traditions at Naughty N’awlins.

King & Queen

Every year, we close out our event with the announcement of our King & Queen, who will always be known as Naughty Royalty, but they will reign all year long before helping us crown two (or more) new Kings and Queens the following year. Kings and Queens are part of pretty much every krewe, and their identity is usually a closely guarded secret and part of the mystique until the night of the Ball.

Parades

Parading started in New Orleans in 1857 and has become a staple in the city ever since. In the beginning, floats were pulled by mules and then later tractors. At Naughty N’awlins, we have floats that are pushed by hand. Our parade is a sexual freedom themed parade, similar to a Pride parade, but we celebrate more than just sexual orientation, we celebrate non-monogamy, polyamory and the freedom to engage in BDSM and other fetishes and personal sexual choices.

Throws and beads

Parades started throwing trinkets into the crowds dating back to the 1780s. Soon, inexpensive glass beads were thrown to the crowds, and eventually, they were mass-produced using plastic and the traditional colors of purple, gold & green.

At Naughty N’awlins, we throw beads in our parade, off our balconies (to Bourbon St onlookers), and at our Saturday Night Mardi Gras Ball after announcing our King & Queen.

Balls

Each Mardi Gras krewe usually has a big ball immediately following their parade for their riders, other members and invited guests.

At Naughty N’awlins, we have four balls, each with a different theme night. This year’s themes are Haunted Naughty, Galactic “Out of this World,” and Pineapple Pride, and we always end with our Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball.

Masks

Did you know wearing a mask in New Orleans is illegal, except on Mardi Gras day, and you must remove it by 6 pm? Of course, this is an antiquated law that is not enforced.

Masking started during Mardi Gras to allow wearers to escape society and class constraints. When wearing a mask, carnival goers were free to be whomever they wanted and mingle with whatever class they desired.

Today, everyone wears masks during Mardi Gras. Float riders are required to wear masks by law.

At Naughty N’awlins, people wear masks as decorations, part of their costumes, and as a way to be somewhat anonymous. There are lots of beautiful masks for sale throughout the French Quarter.

This is part of an ongoing series of Mardi Gras and New Orleans traditions that we post for our attendees to understand this magical city we call home.