A favorite saying in New Orleans is Laissez les bon temps rouler....which means "Let the good times roll." An equally popular saying is "Show Your Mardi Gras Colors." Although some people find the purple, green and gold colors pleasing enough to wear at any time of the year, Carnival time is when everyone puts their "Game Shades" on. When Mardi Gras is underway, you should be in costume or wear clothing that reflects the traditional colors of this celebration.
Anyone who is familiar with this southern, coastal city knows that heritage, tradition, and legends play a very important role in the lives of its people. Few things are taken for granted when it is possible to find a reason or a story that can give it deeper meaning. Food for instance, many of the best recipes have stories that add a richer flavor to the Jambalaya or shrimp po'boy that is being enjoyed. You can sit at a diner and savor a bite of Seafood Gumbo and the cook can tell you the history behind the dish and all of the ingredients. There are some recipes that will have some embellishment and you might find several people who all claim to have invented the same dish. You simply enjoy listening to the tales and then you can decide which version (recipe and story) you like best.
There are several tales that you will hear concerning even the Mardi Gras colors. The most commonly accepted recounting of the History of Mardi Gras Colors dates back to the late 19th century. The city of New Orleans was thrilled to host a member of Russian Royalty. In 1872, the Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff had traveled across the world in order to visit the Louisiana capitol.
According to the story, he was hot on the trail of an American actress who had caught his eye. The lady in question was said to be Lydia Thompson. Mardi Gras was already a traditional annual event at this time and was extremely popular. The Krewe of Rex decided to honor their guest by giving him the privilege of choosing the colors that would officially represent Mardi Gras. The Grand Duke selected Purple, Green and Gold and the story states that these colors then became the official colors for the House of Romanoff and Mardi Gras.
In 1892, twenty years after the Grand Duke's visit, the theme of the Rex Parade was "Symbolism of Colors". Purple symbolized Justice; Green symbolized Faith; and Gold symbolized Power. But the legend does not end here; there is an added little tweak.
Some say the colors of Mardi Gras influenced the school color selections of both LSU and Tulane. Many people have heard the story of these two rival universities told many times. According to the much-repeated version, LSU arrived in town first to make a color choice for the school. Because of Mardi Gras, the only cloth available was in shades of purple, green, and gold. LSU took the purple and the gold. When Tulane arrived, they had to settle for what was left, which was the green.
This story is fun to repeat as well as to hear, but history shows that the two schools did not make their color selections at the same time. LSU chose purple and gold many years before Tulane. The story involving these 2 in-state rivals racing to buy out bolts of cloth at the same time is much more interesting and therefore more popular.
