New Orleans Carnival Krewes: The History, Spirit & Secrets of Mardi Gras

by Rosary O'Neill, Kim Marie Vaz (Foreword)

Let the good times roll down in New Orleans! Read the secrets and origins of the beloved Mardi Gras.
New Orleans practically owns Mardi Gras, and you would be hard-pressed to find someone who would deny it. The wild celebration brings thousands of tourists to Louisiana each year, but none of it would be possible without the carnival krewes. The backbone of this Big Easy tradition, different krewes put on extravagant paries and celebrations to commemorate the beginning of the Lenten season. Historic krewes such as Comus, Rex, and Zulu date back generations and have become part of New Orleans' greater history, but today, what was once an exclusive position has widened their reach and new krewes are inaugurated regularly to enrich the flavor of Louisiana's cultural melting pot. Through careful and detailed research of over three hundred sources, author and New Orleans native Rosary O'Neill explores this storied institution, its antebellum roots, and its effects in the twenty-first century.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Research

240 pages, Paperback

First published February 2, 2014

Reviews

[Redsteve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent book if you want to get the detailed workings of the old-line Carnival Krewes, but only pretty basic when it comes to addressing the newer Krewes, walking groups and black/female organizations (this book discusses these more in contrast to the older groups). You won't find any shocking details about the old-line Krewes, but she does go into a lot of detail about their hierarchy, attitudes, and practices - as closed societies, these groups virtually define ALL aspects of their members' lives: where they live, go to school, their types of jobs, who they marry, and even where they are buried. She also goes into a lot of details on these groups' operating costs (and the costs of membership). While the author begins with a tone of condemnation towards the old-line krewes (their conservativism, exclusiveness, and the rigid control exerted by the oldest male members), you can tell that O'Neill was raised in their culture, presenting the newer "Superkrewes" as tacky, Johnny-come-latelys who will accept anyone as a member as long as they can pay the dues. Warning, the brief history of New Orleans included in this book isn't great, and, in some cases, is actually inaccurate.

[Sean Carroll · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rarely have I been so disappointed in a book by the end. Fully understood the reason to focus on White krewes & their history, as well as their evolution from Royal pageantry and American secret societies, in the first half. But to take a swipe at defending the KKK, describe the post-Reconstruction period as the old-line krewes vs corruption (both corrupt af), and seem to blame post-Civil Rights era decline in NO on Black politicians? Shakin' my goddam head here.

A scant 15 pages on Black krewes and a paragraph on Mardi Gras Indians, both traditions as long-lived as new-line White societies and old-line, respectively. Casual reflection on the caste system of the old-line krewes that continues to this day (including that two old-line krewes have refused to parade since 1991 since that would involve pledging to invite non-WASPs to join). Three tacked on paragraphs at the end addressing the New Orleans musical traditions that have spanned a century and a half and changed American society while being intimately tied to parading, partying, and krewe balls. Sigh.

[Lea · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s a book about one aspect of carnival that the author is familiar with and thinks is most important. This reads like an undergrad thesis that had a few paragraphs added to chapters to update it. There are some wildly immature swipes at cultures she does not understand, and everything oozes with the lack of self awareness that most people who were born in privilege are blessed with. She needs her mint julep in a chilled silver cup and repeatedly comments on drinks in ice chests that others consume. She belittled the satire of Zulu but goes on and on about how serious the “royalty” of Rex is. Which honestly I found hilarious.

It is a little peak behind the curtain of her world, but there are no real secrets revealed and there’s a whole lot of secrets about carnival that she doesn’t even know exist.

[Fabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educational and elementary--pretty solid facts about one of my favorite things about New Orleans, where I live.And just like American History, the Krewes are pretty much based on racism. White privilege, money, connections, exclusivity. BUT! A way to organize the city that implies your connection to this slow moving place--that you are part of it. I will one day perhaps join a Krewe, and could you imagine getting into the actual group? And... which one? There are marching Krewes, Parade ones, all based on European Monarchy marches through any devoted and true city.

After Katrina, the culture has shifted. The clubs CAN'T be as exclusive as they once were. Glad I know this information now.

[Cornelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun read with lots of amazing history.

[Kathleen Spivack · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Orleans Carnival Krews: The History. Spirit & Secrets of Mardi Gras.
by Rosary O’Neill.

This book is an absolute must for any reader, scholar, reveler, tourist, historian, admirer, expatriate, resident or non- resident lover of this city. O’Neill writes for the obsessed lovers, whether unrequited or fulfilled, of the real and the imagined New Orleans. "New Orleans Carnival Krews" describes social and political structure, past, present and future, and the history and mystery of the Carnival. Through Carnival, the author takes us in to the heart of the planning, the rituals, and the magic. O’Neill shows us the rituals; race, class and and membership. As in all of O'Neills books based on New Orleans, as well as her plays, we discover the lure of this half drowned city, still bravely calling to us with siren insistence.The author shows us how the rich traditions of New Orleans have been preserved.
Her work reveals tales of gentle care and family and district stewardship,. But it also finds perfidy, base betrayal, and illicit passions. Generations of feuds, murder even, seethe just below the surface of O'Neills celebration of her city and its writers and artists. In hectic gaiety the Mardi Gras proclaims the brevity of life: it rivals the city of Venice in its feverish celebrations. Professor O’Neill takes us behind the scenes, shows us the organizations and the planning, the oaths and scandals, the sexuality, the magnetism, the exclusions and the inclusions. And she describes some of the wonderfully artistic and original conceptions, some unbelievably wild and imaginative. We learn of their origins, ideas and their construction, and of the planning that goes into each detail of the citywide spectacle.
Archival illustrations accompany the history of progression of the city, its politics, and its Carnival. Prof. O’Neill is a specialist and knows her mysterious and legendary city intimately. The author open the doors to the magic of New Orleans, with its arcane rites and celebrations, its multi -cultural history and politics, its celebrations, its music, its peoples and joyous survival.
"New Orleans Carnival Krews" as well as O'Neill's other works on her beloved city should be in everyone's travel kit: at any airport, hotel, restaurant , conference center, travel bookstore, or house of good or “ill “repute, as they say—wherever people might want a bit of time on their hands, unobserved, to absorb a very special city, its magnificent secret societies and rites and festivals, its febrile gaiety, its influence on art and literary production, and of course,its thrilling shadow-side.

-Kathleen Spivack-
author of “With Robert Lowell and His Circle: Anne Sexton, Sylvia Plath, Elizabeth Bishop, Stanley Kunitz, others.” ISBN # 978-1-55553-788-3.University Press of New England 2012.

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read everything about Mardi Gras and New Orleans that I can get my hands on, and there's a lot out there. This is specifically about the krewes of carnival and the role they've played historically, socially, and politically throughout the last two centuries. O'Neill even brings us the origin of masked balls, which started in Europe and were brought here by the French. The history of what most people think is just a big, drunken party is so much bigger and majestic and, sometimes, prejudiced and elitist.

One point the author makes repeatedly is the changes to New Orleans and Mardi Gras since Katrina. It is not presented at all in victim-related terms, but that it changed carnival to be more inclusive and brought some of the community spirit more to the forefront.

For anyone who is familiar with Mardi Gras, fascinated by NOLA and likes history, this is a gem of a book. Oh, and my walking krewe was mentioned, so hail KOE!!

[Ria Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was different to what I was expecting. It is more than a book about Mardi Gras. It is a very detailed social history of New Orleans through the perspective of carnival krewes, which are the heart of Mardi Gras. The "old line" krewes are essentially historic social networks that signify one's place in society.

I was quite surprised by the seeming acceptance of racism in this book, but appreciated that it was mentioned because it gave a realistic view of how many people in New Orleans think. It was fascinating learning how the carnival traditions arrived from Europe as well as reading oral histories of people involved in the more recent parades. I was particularly interested in the chapter on African-American carnival societies. I skimmed over some of the chapters in this book, but will come back and read them more closely at another time.

A unique book about a unique city.

[Christopher Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up for research on a novel I'm working on. My wife and I had our honeymoon in New Orleans, years before Katrina, and so I've always been fascinated with the city--even though I'm not a resident. That said, I had NO idea about the extensive history of Maris Gras and the krewes behind it. What an incredible journey into an exclusive subculture the rest of the country (or world) likely has no idea about. For lovers of history, revelry and the Big Easy--check this out.

From what I can see, no other author has been able to have such incredible access to these secret societies and she does a delicious job in lifting the veil. Well done!

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since we visited New Orleans last year, I wanted to know more about this part of their history. This book was very good in both understanding the history, but some of the dynamics of the krewes. It is a whole culture that I know very little about. I enjoyed the pictures throughout the book as well as it was a visual reminder of where they have been.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being from New Orleans I found this book to be a wealth of information about the "High Society" of New Orleans and how it ties in with the old line carnival organizations. The city still has it's royality and ancestry is everything!

[Bobby Blackwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great insight to the history and workings of the town.