When people think of parades and partying in New Orleans Mardi Gras is always the first event that comes to mind.
This city has so much more to offer visitors and locals alike throughout the year. St. Patrick’s Day (and St. Joseph’s Day) is celebrated with all the fanfare and revelry as Carnival over a 13 day period that incorporate seven parades, numerous block parties, religious traditions, beads, kissing and cabbage, lots of cabbage.
With the rich Irish and Italian culture in the Crescent City, here are several reasons why St. Patrick’s and St. Joseph’s Day is the perfect time of year to be here.
1) Spreading the Love:
It’s all about spreading the love. The parade revelers and marching groups love to spread their love and their kisses to the masses. There is no such thing as a wallflower at these parades, if you can pucker, you can participate. Girls and guys alike can enjoy the affection of total strangers without the commitment, it is the perfect relationship.
2) Catching your Dinner:
Photo by: http://diylol.com/meme-generator
It’s all about catching your dinner. Unlike Mardi Gras parades where beads and doubloons rule, the prized throws at these parades are cabbage, carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic and the ultimate dessert, Moonpies. For days after a parade, you will be bombarded with dishes like cole slaw, cabbage stew, cabbage rolls and any other dish made from this hearty vegetable.
3) Meeting the Neighbors:
Photo by: Gambit via http://www.bestofneworleans.com/
It’s all about meeting the Neighbors. Block and house parties rule during this time of the year. From the more popular ones like Parasol’s and Tracy’s lack Parties Uptown to the more subdued (somewhat) house parties in the neighborhoods Uptown, St. Bernard and Metairie during the parades in those areas, everyone gets into the spirit of the holiday. You can actually bounce along the routes visiting friends, enjoying a cocktail or ten, and eating your way to the end of the route so by the time your reach your final destination, you are a stuffed, drunk and covered in green beads.
4) Artistic Ability:
It’s all about your artistic ability. Most of the parades bypass the traditional floats for the truck floats which the groups actually design and create themselves. Some are true to the Irish or Italian culture and others are satirical statements about the city and the politics. Either way, they are wonderful representations of what makes out city so unique.
5) (Another) Chance to Wear a Costume:
It’s all about another chance to wear a costume. Let’s not lie; we love to costume in our city for any occasion. Whether it be Mardi Gras, Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day or a random Tuesday, we do not miss an opportunity to don a new persona. During this holiday I dare you will see leprechauns, toga clad college guys, beer wenches exploding out of their corset and Gandolf. The Lord of the Ring characters always seems to be very popular this time of the year.
6) The New Orleans Culture:
Photo by: Ben Flanagan via http://blog.al.com/
It’s all about the New Orleans culture. From our architecture throughout the neighborhoods to the cuisine, during this season you experience a true slice of life of what it is like to live in our great city. Our citizens embrace our culture and wear it amazingly well like a favorite outfit. We show it off, sashy it down the runway but most of all tell others where we got it and how they can get it to.
7) Getting Our Party On!:
It’s all about getting our party on! People in this city do not just have a good time; we take our partying to nuclear proportions. If you don’t drink, that is okay, if you don’t like to wear a costume, that is okay too (although it hurts my soul), the only thing you need to be able to do in New Orleans is smile, laugh and let the let yourself be free in the festivities surrounding you.
8) Learning How to Catch:
It’s all about learning how to catch. Word of advice, a bead hits you, may sting a little, but no worse for the wear, a flying cabbage comes at you and you are out for the count. My advice, learn how to catch or stand further back. Remember it is just vegetation, you can get it at the store for less than it would cost for the co-payment for a doctor’s visit for a concussion.
9) The Tradition:
It’s all about the tradition. And when you are through with your revelry of the parade, make sure you visit some of our St. Joseph Day Altars. No matter what religious affiliation you abide by, these structures are created out of love and community. They are wonderful reminders of faith, hope and family which is what New Orleans is all about. They also offer some amazing food and are spectacular artistic and design installations.
It’s all about you! Dance in the streets, drink green beer, wear a shamrock hat, kiss a stranger, no matter what you end up doing, make it your holiday, your time, and always remember lasisez les bons temps rouler.