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Mardi Gras in Mobile is the annual Carnival celebration in Mobile, Alabama. It is the oldest annual Carnival celebration in the United States, started by Frenchman Nicholas Langlois in 1703. This was fifteen years before New Orleans was founded, although today their celebrations are much more widely known.〔〔(New Orleans & Mardi Gras History Timeline ), Mardi Gras Digest, 2005.〕 From Mobile being the first capital of French Louisiana (1702), the festival began as a French Catholic tradition. Mardi Gras in Mobile has now evolved into a mainstream multi-week celebration across the spectrum of cultures in Mobile, becoming school holidays for the final Monday and Tuesday (some include Wednesday),regardless of religious affiliation.〔(McGill-Toolen Catholic High School Calendar for February 3, 2008] ), Archdiocese of Mobile, November 2007.〕〔(Westlawn Elementary – All Events for February 2008 ), Westlawn Elementary, Mobile, Alabama, 2007〕 Although Mobile has traditions of exclusive societies, with formal masked balls and elegant costumes, the celebration has evolved over the past three centuries to become typified by public parades where members of societies, often masked, on floats or horseback, toss gifts (known as throws) to the general public. Throws include necklaces of plastic beads, doubloon coins, decorated plastic cups, candy, wrapped cakes or snacks, stuffed animals, and small toys, footballs, frisbees, or whistles.〔(Mobile Chamber of Commerce: Mobile Mardi Gras ), Chamber of Commerce, 2007.〕〔(Gulf Coast's oldest Mardi Gras ),''USA TODAY'', January 26, 2004.〕 The masked balls or dances, where non-masked men wear white tie and tails (full dress or costume de rigueur) and the women wear full length evening gowns, are oriented to adults, with some mystic societies treating the balls as an extension of the debutante season of their exclusive social circles. Various nightclubs and local bars offer their own particular events. Beyond the public parades, Mardi Gras in Mobile involves many various mystic societies, some having begun in 1704, or ending with the Civil War, while new societies were formed every century. Some mystic societies are never seen in public parades, but rather hold invitation-only events for their secret members, with private balls beginning in November, each year. ==Overview== The Mobile Mardi Gras season starts in November, with exclusive parties held by some secret mystic societies, then New Year's Eve balls. It has become closely entwined with the social debutante season for certain families. Other mystic societies begin their events at Twelfth Night (January 6), with parades, balls (some of them masquerade balls), and king cake parties.〔(Mobile Carnival Association History ), Mardi Gras Digest, 2006.〕〔(Mobile Bay Convention: Mardi Gras Terminology ), Mobile Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2007.〕 During the last two weeks before Mardi Gras, at least one major parade takes place each day in the city.〔 The largest and most elaborate parades take place the last few days of the season. In the final week of Mardi Gras, many events large and small occur throughout Mobile and the surrounding communities. The parades in Mobile are organized mainly by mystic societies or orders. Society float riders toss throws to the crowds. The most common throws are strings of colorful plastic beads,〔 ''doubloons'' (aluminium or wooden dollar-sized coins usually impressed with a krewe logo),〔 wrapped candy/snacks/MoonPies,〔〔 decorated plastic ''throw cups'', stuffed animals,〔 and other small inexpensive toys.〔 Major krewes follow the same parade schedule and route each year. To Mobilians, Mardi Gras refers to the entire festival season, also known as Carnival. Local schools have multiple "Mardi Gras Holidays", which often include Ash Wednesday.〔〔〔 Mobile's culture is diverse, and as a result the Mardi Gras season has been extended. The area's traditions draw from all of its history, including French, Spanish, British, African, Creole, American, and even Swedish influences. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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