Did You Know?

Mardi Gras Fun Facts:

• One of the earliest recorded Mardi Gras celebrations in Southwest Louisiana is believed to have taken place nearly 140 years ago, back on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 1882.
• Southwest Louisiana’s Mardi Gras celebration is the second-largest in the state behind New Orleans, featuring more than 60 different krewes.
• The average Mardi Gras costume weighs more than 50 pounds and construction for next year’s costumes often begins just days after this year’s event.
• Most of the caps that you see on the costume-wearers began as a simple piece of aluminum foil.
• That the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu contains the largest collection of Mardi Gras costumes in the world.
• Cajun Mardi Gras costumes are often made of shirts and pants that feature large, colorful fringes.
• The tall, pointy hats typically seen at a Cajun Mardi Gras celebration are called “capuchins” (pronounced cappy-shons) and are meant to parody the headdresses of France's noble ladies.
• The first Miss Mardi Gras of Imperial Calcasieu was crowned in 1983 and the title went to Miss Christine Marie Campbell.
• The Royal Gala held on Lundi Gras each year is the only event in the state that allows the public to see the Krewe's Royal Courts in costume.