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Mardi Gras Celebration, Undated - Circa 1960 - New Orleans, LA
Purpose: To celebrate, with "wholesome fun, spontaneous gaiety and feasting," season just prior to Lenten period of fast; termed by visitors "greatest free show on earth."
History, Organization: Literally, Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" or Shrove Tuesday—day before Ash Wednesday. Originally, celebration was European custom but New Orleans’ observance, in form of balls and masquerade dances, apparently started soon after colony founded. Street pageants, with public masking, began about 1857; Rex, King of Carnival, appeared first in 1872.
"Carnival" and "Mardi Gras" not synonymous; former opens officially Jan. 6, marked by succession of elaborate private balls; latter begins two weeks before Shrove Tuesday, includes balls but features street parades and masking, general public and visitors participating. Today, each of 65 Carnival organizations holds annual ball at average cost of $25,000; many also stage parades; financed by membership dues and assessments. Admission to balls strictly by invitation; no tickets sold; no advertising or commercialism tolerated.
Site, Dates, Attendance: City-wide celebration. Mardi Gras serves as "climax of Carnival season"; "tens of thousands" of visitors attracted each year.
Comment: Most Carnival and Mardi Gras balls held at Municipal Auditorium; include elaborately costumed tableaus. Captain of each organization and secret committee select King, Queen, Royal Court and Krewe who comprise cast; theme can be historical, poetical, etc., or purely imaginative. Guests are merely spectators during formal program; later participate in general dancing.
With advent of Mardi Gras proper, street parades and pageants take over, night and day. Rex organization selects Rex, King of Mardi Gras, always some outstanding civic leader; parades on Mardi Gras day, Shrove Tuesday; holds ball that night, bringing entire celebration to close.
Medals: Issued for first time in 1960 by School of Design, official name of Rex organization; designed by H. A. Sharpe; struck by Crofters, Inc., Chicago. Issue consisted of 30 sterling Silver, twice thickness of Aluminum, about 3000 anodized Aluminum and 125,000 plain Aluminum pieces. Medals, other than plain Aluminum, were presented to special guests and officials; plain Aluminum used as "throw" pieces, i.e. tossed to crowds by Rex, King of Mardi Gras. Beginning 1961, similar medals were dated.
Obverse: Crowned head and bust l., with letters H.A.S in exergue on r. base of bust; above Rex King of Carnival; below bust, around Monarch of Merriment; beaded border.
Reverse: Coat of Arms of School of Design; at lower l. is artist’s palette with brushes; at lower r. is face mask; above coat of arms · Pro Bono Publico ; below coat of arms New Orleans / Mardi Gras; beaded border.
HK-579 - Silver. Undated. Size 25.
HK-579a - Silver. Dated.
HK-579b - Silver. Uniface.
HK-579c - Copper. Uniface.
HK-580 - Aluminum, Gold-anodized. Undated.
HK-580a - Aluminum, Gold-anodized. Dated.
HK-581 - Aluminum, plain.
 
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