| The Mardi Gras Tradition
The rich Mardi Gras tradition has continued for three centuries, despite war, disease, natural disaster and other obstacles. The celebration has been put on hold or down-sized on various occasions throughout its 300-year history, including the Civil War, Yellow Fever epidemic, two World Wars, Prohibition, the Great Depression, the Korean Conflict, Hurricane Betsy, a devastating 1970 tornado and a strike by New Orleans police in 1979. But the spirit of Mardi Gras has prevailed.
Highlights in the history
of "America's biggest party":
1699 (March 3) Mardi Gras is introduced to North America in name and spirit. French explorer Pierre le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville, names his camp along the Mississippi River "Point du Mardi Gras," in tribute to the holiday being celebrated that very day back home.
1743 Carnival-style balls are first held at the Louisiana Governor's Mansion.
1806 Street masking and most balls are prohibited until 1827.
1857 Carnival in its present form is born. The newly created secret order of Comus coins the term "krewe" and presents a themed parade followed by a tableau
ball.
1871 The first "throws" are tossed to spectators by a masker costumed as Santa Claus in the Twelfth Night Revelers parade.
1872 Rex, the King of Carnival, designates Mardi Gras' anthem, "If Ever 1 Cease to Love," and its official colors: purple (justice), green (faith) and gold (power).
1889 Krewe of Electra presents the first electric parade with 128 maskers wearing lighted helmets. 1940 Parade calendar expands to a full week.
1950 Tractors replace the mules that had pulled floats for nearly 100 years.
1960 Krewe of Rex tosses out the first doubloons, aluminum coin-like trinkets
1970 Czechoslovakian glass beads are replaced by plastic beads from Hong Kong
1973 Krewes are banned from parading through the French Quarter, ending a 117-year tradition.
1986 All-time record 55 parades are held in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes.
Mardi Gras Fiesta Tropicale
Rich History Dates Back A Half-Century
Mardi Gras Fiesta Tropicale emerged from a Hollywood tradition that started in 1935 as Fiesta of the Nations, a celebration of different cultures featuring performances by costumed children at Hollywood Central School. The following year, a group of Hollywood settlers renamed the event Fiesta Tropicale ("Tropical Party") and reshaped it to attract northern visitors.
Later, festival organizers patterned the event after the popular New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration, adding a street parade, downtown activities, a circus, contests and professional entertainers. Through national promotion by Hollywood leader Ella Jo Stollberg, Florida’s first female attorney, Fiesta Tropicale grew from 6,000 to 10,000 visitors in the late 1930s.
During World War II, the Fiesta Tropicale celebration was put on hold (as was the New Orleans Mardi Gras). The event’s popularity steadily increased after its 1949 return, until attendance reached 100,000 festival-goers by 1966, the last year Fiesta Tropicale was held. The annual tradition died with the passing of its driving force, Ella Jo Stollberg-Wilcox, in 1967.
Fiesta Tropicale Returns
After 30-Year Absence
In 1997, a core group of Hollywood residents re-established the Mardi Gras celebration as Fiesta Tropicale of Hollywood, Inc., a community-based, 501(c)3 non-profit organization run by a board of directors.
With the enthusiastic support of the City of Hollywood and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, the community and numerous sponsors, Mardi Gras Fiesta Tropicale is in its fourth season.
Mardi Gras Fiesta Tropicale is a celebration of South Florida’s diversity as well as Hollywood’s history, showcasing a variety of ethnic, cultural and civic groups.
The organization is dedicated to uniting and improving the community and enhancing its cultural life through various cultural and educational programs, scholarships and charity fund-raisers.
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