Naughty’s 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 the 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 28 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 them on 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 identities are usually closely guarded secrets, 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 by 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 in plastic in 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 after its parade for its 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 Naughty Bordello, “Through The Looking Glass”, and Everyone’s Favorite Neon/Glow, 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 whomever they desired.
Today, everyone wears masks during Mardi Gras. Float riders are required by law to wear masks.
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 posts on Mardi Gras and New Orleans traditions we share with our attendees to help them understand this magical city we call home.