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There are really two celebrations of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. One, the old and established social organizations and families follow traditional, well preserved rituals. The second is a free-for-everyone free-for-all.
Mardi Gras stems from pagan rites of Spring which were taken over by the Christians, as were many pagan holidays, then molded to fit Christian traditions. In early days, ladies in New Orleans used to throw roses and bonbons from the balconies which soon led to urchins throwing sacks of flower and finally sacks of mud. These celebrations finally so got out of hand that the Spainsh outlawed them for a while.
After the Americans reinstituted them, masking was outlawed when the mysterious Aaron Burr appeared one year in New Orleans.
In 182 0, Creole youths returning from Paris brought with them the idea of large groups banning together and the first Parades as such began.
In 1857 the Mystic Crew of Comus was formed, and its parade consisted of two floats, one for the King and the second depicting Satan in the blazing fires of Hell. Carnival was born.
In 1872 Rex was being founded. The Grand Duke Alexandrovich Romanov was chassing women around North America, particularly he was in persuit of one Miss Lydia Thompson who was an actress appearing in the comedy Bluebird in which she sang the song If Ever I Cease to Love. The Grand Duke adapted the song. When he learned that Lydia was headed to New Orleans, coincidental with the founding of Rex and the Carnival season, he immediately made arrangements' to come to New Orleans.
New Orleans, upon learning that a real nobleperson was comming made grand preparations for him, including a thrne on the porch of the City Hall. The Grand Duke, however arrived not as a prince of Russia, but in the uniform of a Russian Naval Lieutenant and refusing the throne prepared for him stood throughout the ceremony. He even quoted from the Declaration of Independance that all men were created equal. New Orleans resented it, having made such elaborate preparations for him. Just as Rex rode up on his horse and bowed the	the Grand Duke, someone in the band	started	singing
the Grand	Duke	favorite song, Miss Thompson's	If Ever	I Cease
to Love, only he sang;
If Ever I cease to Love
May the Grand Duke ride a buiffalo
In a Texas rodeo -
If	ever I cease to love.
The Grand	Duke	was not amused, having prefered to keep his
love affair with Miss Thompson a secret. He also behaved