FEBRUARY 7-12, 2002
Mardi Gras in Red River is a six-day celebration of life, inspired by the good people of Louisiana who brought the festival of Fat Tuesday to the high country many moons ago.
With Grand Balls featuring the music of "Bayou Petro" every night, revelers in fanciful costumes and masks, colorful parades, great food in the Cajun and Creole traditions and a bunch of other special events around town, Mardi Gras is a great way for the locals to chase away cabin fever and for everybody to lose the mid-winter blues.
Oh, yes: let's not forget the beads.
Yes, beads. Usually made of plastic, these bright, gaudy baubles are much sought after and treasured. They can be bought at local stores, but the best way to acquire a large variety of these symbols of the season is to trade for them. They are throws, tossed at every ball and parade by the members of Krewes, secret societies that sponsor different events and are responsible for the flavor and chaotic madness of Mardi Gras.
While the krewes consist of local citizens who enjoy a good party, visitors to town are welcome - even urged and frequently coerced - to participate in the fun. The Nefarious Hilarious UnKrewe, which has established its Official Universal Headquarters - "Hey, we got a few members from Roswell. Great costumes!" - at the Black Crow Coffee House, are well-known for including out-of-towners in their parties and in the now-monumental Fat Tuesday Truck Parade which is open to anyone with a truck.
Mardi Gras in the Mountains is sponsored by the Red River Chamber of Commerce. They have information about all events and can tell you where to find the oh-so-popular beads. The COC office is located in Town Hall.
As for the origins of Mardi Gras, the ancient Greeks seem to have started the ball rolling with pre-spring rituals which involved flogging to seek purification. (Flogging in Red River is considered recreational and, therefore, optional.)
The Romans, who stole everything, including Greek culture, had the same celebration, calling it Lupercalia and encouraged the wearing of costumes and masks, an influence from the rituals of conquered tribes who wore masks during "primitive" holy ceremonies in an effort to scare away evil spirits. (It didn't work: the Romans stuck around anyway.)
The French brought the party to the New World, with the first observation of Mardi Gras in 1699, near present day New Orleans, the spiritual home of the modern-day Mardi Gras.
Today, Mardi Gras is observed around the world, most notably in Rio de Janeiro, Venice, Brussels, Mobile, Charleston, Galveston and Red River NM. Everyone, from young to old, is invited to the party!
