Gung Hay Fat Choy and Happy Mardi Gras 2026 -- February 17, 2026

ann4roleplay@freepik.com

Today is the beginning of Chinese New Year, the Year of the Fire Horse. Visit my other blog, The Big V Riot Squad (http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/) to see a tribute to the Year of the Horse and Rex, King of the Wild Horses: 

https://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2026/02/rex-marvelous-stallion-in-devil-horse.html

Today is also Mardi Gras and the beginning of Ramadan.

Mardi Gras 2025 -- March 4, 2025

Omaha Bee, 07-February-1925

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone. One hundred years ago, the Illinois Central Railroad invited people in Omaha to visit New Orleans for the Mardi Gras season.

The excursion train would be parked at the station, near Lee Circle "where all parades pass." Guests could spend each night in their sleeping car.

Attend Mardi Gras at New Orleans, Mobile or Pensacola -- March 3, 2025

Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, 06-February-1925

Take the Louisville and Nashville Railroad from Saint Louis to New Orleans, Mobile or Pensacola for Mardi Gras.

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, 2024 -- April 25, 2024

Kellie Talbot created this poster for the 2024 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. It shows the Dixie Cups, New Orleans ladies who had a hit with "Chapel of Love" in 1964. During the same session they casually recorded the Mardi Gras song "Iko Iko." 

Canal Street During Mardi Gras -- February 26, 2024

Canal Street During Mardi Gras, New Orleans, La.

New Orleans Mardi Gras -- February 13, 2024

Paducah News-Democrat, 12-February-1924

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone. One hundred years ago, the Illinois Central Railroad invited people in Paducah, Kentucky to visit New Orleans for the Mardi Gras season.

"The Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a pageant of unrivaled beauty and splendor, the result of carefully organized artistic effort that begins many months before the event. There are several days of magnificent parades, brilliant balls and a final day when masked throngs frolic in the streets and give the carnival its cosmopolitan and democratic character."

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and Saint Valentine's Day, so we are celebrating Valentine's Day today. 

The World's Gayest Frolic, Mardi Gras in New Orleans-- February 21, 2023

Washington Evening Star, 25-January-1923

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone. The Southern Pacific Railroad invited people to take their Sunset Limited to and from New Orleans for Mardi Gras season in 1923.

Of Course You Are Going!! Mardi Gras at New Orleans -- March 1, 2022

Grenada, Mississippi Sentinel, 24-February-1922

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone. One hundred years ago today, the Illinois Central Railroad invited people in Grenada, Mississippi to take advantage of their "Low Excursion Fares" to New Orleans for Mardi Gras in 1922.

Join in the Revels of Mardi Gras -- February 16, 2021

Philadelphia Evening Public Ledger, 17-January-1921

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone. The Southern Pacific Railroad invited people to take their Sunset Limited  to and from New Orleans for Mardi Gras season in 1921.

The Carnival City -- February 25, 2020

The St Martinsville Weekly Messenger, 17-February-1900

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone. The Southern Pacific Railroad invited people to take their special train  to and from New Orleans for Mardi Gras season in 1900.

Music by Jazz Band -- March 5, 2019

Morgan City Daily Review, 01-March-1919

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone. 100 years ago, in 1919, Mardi Gras festivities were limited in New Orleans because of the recently concluded war, but the people of Morgan, Louisiana were invited to a Mardi Gras dance, featuring a jazz band. "Jazz" spelled that way was a fairly new word. "All invited."

This is not a jazz band, but I have always liked the Wild Tchoupitoulas.

Mardi Gras at New Orleans -- February 13, 2018

Sisterville, West Virginia Daily Oil Review, 19-January-1903

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone.  The Illinois Central Railroad invited people to take their special "Tour Service" to New Orleans for Mardi Gras season in 1903.

Low Round Trip Fare to New Orleans Account Mardi Gras Celebrations -- February 28, 2017

Morgan City Daily Review, 20-February-1917

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone. The Southern Pacific Railroad offered inexpensive fares to Mardi Gras for people who wanted to celebrate.

Mardi Gras -- Only a Day and Night to New Orleans -- February 9, 2016

Hopkinsville Kentuckian, 30-January-1917

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone. The Louisville and Nashville Railroad offered round trip tickets from Hopkinsville, Kentucky to New Orleans for only $19.45.  A sleeping car berth would be $4.00 to $4.50 each way.  "Board at best private homes $1.00 per day or at first-rate hotels $2.00 per day and up."

Grand Mardi Gras Ball -- 17-February-2015

New Orleans Daily Democrat, 22-February-1879

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone.  Mardi Gras was late in 1879, when the Globe Theater at Perdido and Baronne did not give "their Annual Grand Fancy Dress and Mask Ball" until February 25. 

In New Orleans -- February 11, 2015

Tagliches Cincinnatier Volksblatt, 27-January-1915

Take the Louisville and Nashville Railroad from Cincinnati to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.  I suspect that this German-language newspaper may have gone out of business once the United States entered World War One. 

Happy Mardi Gras #2 -- February 21, 2012

Today is Mardi Gras. In honor of Mardi Gras, here is a photo of New Orleans trumpet king Louis Armstrong. He appeared on the cover of the 21-February-1949 Time Magazine.That year he was chosen as King of Zulu by the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club of New Orleans, hosts of the Zulu Parade.

Happy Mardi Gras -- March 8, 2011

Today is Mardi Gras. In honor of Mardi Gras, here is a photo of famed New Orleans reed player, band leader and composer, Sidney Bechet, playing his famed alto saxophone. Bechet led a troubled life. He was deported from France after a women was shot during a gun battle between Bechet and a fellow musician. He went to the UK, where he picked up the soprano sax and got deported after an assault. Back in the US, he played and recorded regularly. He returned to France in 1950 and spent the rest of his life there. I always enjoy listening to his music.