Mardi Gras 2008 Events

Mardi Gras Events 2008

Janury 25th
ANDALUSIA Mardi Gras Parade - New Iberia, LA
6:30 pm - Main Street

January 26th
KREWE OF CARNIVALE EN RIO Mardi Gras Parade - Lafayette, LA
6:30 pm - Downtown Lafayette

January 28th
KREWE OF EZAN Mardi Gras Parade - Jeanerette, LA
1:00 pm - Canal & Main Street, Jeanerette, LA

February 1st
FRIDAY NIGHT PARADE - Lafayette, LA
6:30 pm - Lafayette, LA

February 2nd
CHILDREN's PARADE - Lafayette, LA
2:30 pm - Lafayette, LA
KREWE OF BOBAPARTE Mardi Gras Parade - Lafayette, LA
6:30 pm - Lafayette, LA

Feburary 4th
QUEEN's PARADE - Lafayette, LA
6:00 pm - Lafayette, LA

February 5th
GRAND MARAID Mardi Gras Parade - Jeanerette
11:00 am - Hwy 90 at College Road
KING's PARADE - Lafayette, LA
10:00 am - Lafayette, LA
LAFAYETTE MARDI GRAS FESTIVAL Parade - Lafayette, LA
1:00 pm Lafayette, LA
INDEPENDENT PARADE - Lafayette
2:00 pm - Lafayette, LA
KREWE CHIC-A-LA-PIE Mardi Gras Parade - Kaplan, LA
2:00 pm - Downtown Kaplan
KREWE OF COTEAU Mardi Gras Parade - Coteau, LA
1:00 pm - Coteau Ballpark

Gifts Etc is not responsible for any calendar date changes made subsequest to this posting. Events, dates and locations are subject to change. Please verfiy with organizer of event.

Pinneaple Lore

Pineapple Lore

Since colonial times the pineapple has been a symbol of hospitality. In colonial America, visiting was the primary means of entertainment, cultural intercourse, and news dissemination. Hospitality-- the charm, warmth, and style with which guests were received-- was central to daily living and the center of most all community activity was the home.
Folklore tells us that upon returning home sea captains would put a pineapple on the gatepost as a sign that they were once again safely home. This sign bade welcome to friends and family to visit, eat, and hear the tales of their voyages. Lore also tells us that guests who had overstayed their welcome would find a pineapple placed at the foot of their bed, a polite sign that it was time to leave.

While common today, in colonial times pineapples were a rare commodity and due to their costly nature would be used as major attractions during special feasts?quite literally a culinary crown.

A hostesses? ability to secure a pineapple for a dinner party said as much about her rank as it did about her resourcefulness, especially since, not only were they rare and expensive, but the street trade of these prized fruits was not for the faint of heart.

In more affluent homes, the dining room doors were kept closed until the appointed hour, and then with all the flair and suspense of opening night on Broadway, the doors were opened to reveal the evening?s main event. When visitors beheld a pineapple topped display, they knew their hostess was one who spared no expense and that her guest?s happiness was of the utmost importance to the success of the affair.

With such a glowing history as the symbol of friendship and hospitality, it is easy to see why this fruit has been used by architects and homeowners alike to adorn dwellings, furnishings, and artifacts for the home.

For a lovely selection of pineapple adorned items for your home click here.

Why are the colors for Mardi Gras - Purple, Green and Gold?

Official Colors of Mardi Gras

The official colors of Mardi Gras are PURPLE, GREEN and GOLD. These three colors were seleacted by the King of Carnival, Rex in 1872. Each color has a symbolic meaning. PURPLE represents Justice. GREEN is symbolic of Faith and GOLD stands for Power.

When is Mardi Gras?

Dates of Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras, "Fat Tuesday" in French is always on a Tuesday.

Mardi Gras can be any Tuesday from February 3rd to March 9th.

Hopes these dates help you plan your next Mardi Gras celebration.

Year ~ Mardi Gras
2008 ~ February 5
2009 ~ February 24
2010 ~ February 16
2011 ~ March 8
2012 ~ February 21
2013 ~ February 12
2014 ~ March 4
2015 ~ February 17
2016 ~ February 9
2017 ~ February 28
2018 ~ February 13
2019 ~ March 5
2020 ~ February 25
2021 ~ February 16

Happy New Year

The New Year always brings to mind resolutions. Just as we begin the year with personal resolutions for self improvement and ideas for bettering our quality of life, so too have we made resolutions for Gift?s Etc. I began posting Blog articles on this site several months ago, as the end of the year drew near Marilynn, CEO of the company, called me and proposed the idea that I take over the Blog portion of the site. Needless to say I was thrilled, if not a bit nervous, for not only the opportunity to write, but also to be able to work with Marilynn and the staff.

As you wander around the site, please take note of some of our "resolutions". One resolution we are very pleased to bring you is called "Elizabeth?s Best Recipes". This new feature showcases original recipes each month from our resident home economist, Elizabeth DeBuse. As part of this new feature, an article will accompany the recipe as well as a special dinnerware item that corresponds to the recipe featured. The piece will be offered at a special price and the design unique to that piece.


You?ll also find a posting from me each month letting you know what?s new to the site?products, information, and articles. As always, your input is welcome. We would hope that you would send us your ideas and thoughts to share with those who visit our site.


The New Year will also bring some new informational postings for our site. Not only will we have useful articles concerning our products and their use, but general articles about entertaining, home decorating, useful household tips, making the most of family time and activities, special articles to help you enhance your holidays, and other topics which we feel will appeal to our site visitors. It is our hope that with the information provided you can not only set a unique and attractive table or decorate your mantel that will bring "oohh?s and aahh?s" from guests, but that we can provide a resource to help you in making your house a home and improve and enhance the time you spend with your family.

Happy New Year,
Elise Durio
Editor

Mardi Gras Dictionary

Mardi Gras Dictionary

BALL ~ (bal masque; tableau ball) A masked ball in which scenes representing a specific theme are enacted for the entertainment of the club members and their guests; krewe "royalty" is traditionally presented during the ball.

CAPTAIN ~ The absolute leader of each Carnival organization.

CARNIVAL ~ From the Latin carnivale, loosely translated as "farewell to flesh"; the season of merriment in New Orleans which begins annually on January 6, the Twelfth Night (the feast of the Epiphany), and ends at midnight on Fat Tuesday; the Carnival season leads up to the penitential season of Lent in which fasting replaces feasting.

COURT ~ The King, Queen, maids, and dukes of the Carnival organization.

DEN ~ A large warehouse where floats are built and stored.

DOUBLOONS ~ Aluminum coin-like objects bearing the krewe's insignia on one side and the parade's theme on the reverse; first introduced by Rex in 1960 and created by New Orleans artist H. Alvin Sharpe. Doubloons are also minted and sold in .999 silver, bronze and cloisonne.

FAVOR ~ A souvenir, given by krewe members to friends attending the ball, normally bearing the organization's insignia, name and year of issue.

INVITATION ~ A printed request for attendance at a Carnival ball. In the 19th century, many invitations were die-cut and printed in Paris; today, most are printed in New Orleans. Invitations are non-transferable, and it is improper to ever refer to them as "tickets".

KING CAKE ~ An oval sugared pastry that contains a plastic doll hidden inside. The person who finds the doll is crowned "king" and buys the next cake or throws the next party. The king cake season opens on King's Day, January 6, the feast of the Epiphany. More than 750,000 king cakes are annually consumed in the metro New Orleans area during Carnival season.

KREWE ~ The generic term for the Carnival organizations in New Orleans, first used by the Mystic Krewe of Comus, which coined the word in 1857 to give it's club's name an Old English flavor.

LASSIEZ BON TEMPS ROULE! ~ Let the good times roll!

LUNDI GRAS ~ French for Fat Monday, From 1874 to 1917, the day before Mardi Gras was celebrated by the arrival of Rex aboard a steamboat. The custom was revived in 1987; and Lundi gras now includes Carnival act ivies staged by Zulu and Rex.

MARDI GRAS ~ French for Fat Tuesday, the single-day culmination of the Carnival season.

THROWS ~ Inexpensive trinkets tossed from floats by costumed and masked krewe members. Among the more popular items are krewe-emblemed aluminum doubloons, plastic cups, and white pearl necklaces. Throws are tossed in response to the cry, "Throw me something , mister!?