What Mardi Gras (or the lack thereof) Truly Means to Us
Kala Rachal
To me, Mardi Gras means "taking it to the streets," being in the mix with the culture bearers. Partying all Lundi Gras and rolling into Fat Tuesday with no sleep is one of my favorite things about Mardi Gras, but I’ll miss walking with the Black Indians the most. Not having a traditional Mardi Gras this year means re-potting a plant that thrives under any conditions, and I plan to sit on the porch and play music while dressed in my Mardi Gras costume.
Christina Illarmo
Mardi Gras is the excuse I need to hoard an otherwise unreasonable amount of glitter. It's the one day a year all you have to do is leave the house and you will run into a hundred people you love. I'll really miss the brass bands and everybody dancing in the street! I also think everyone has a lot of pent up energy & the city feels so heavy right now. I worry that not having a safe, joyous release may lead to a scary year ahead of us. This year, there's no way I will be able to stay home alone. My heart can't take it! I'll be out on the levee, masked, and sending love to the city.
Kaelyn Charbonnet
Mardi Gras is a NOLA birth right - when you're from New Orleans, you're born into this. It means leaving all of your worries behind and letting the good times roll! And anywhere else, it's just another Tuesday! What's not to miss? What I adore most about Mardi Gras is flooding the streets with our unique culture and everyone—including visitors—having a place to be and see the sights of what makes New Orleans so special. This is the first year I'll ever miss a Mardi Gras in my whole life. My family and I will miss coming together and gathering in the Treme streets. It's a heartbreak for the city, but the City of New Orleans will make the best of it. They will still carry on the legacy, no matter what. Nothing can ever replace Mardi Gras, but this year we will indulge in King Cake, second line music and all that makes Mardi Gras festive, as COVID safe as possible.
Ryann Martinek
As a non-New Orleanian my connection to Mardi Gras is somewhat new and continuously changing. I love that Mardi Gras channels me into a space of childlike joy and wonder, while simultaneously providing space for ritual and larger connection. I love that each Mardi Gras, by the time Fat Tuesday rolls around, I find I'm exactly where I need to be. And while each year has been different, it's always been in good company! This year, what I'll miss the most is dancing in crowds, in the streets, hugging and being more physically close with less concern. But my new tradition this year will be to get more rest! This year has forced a slow down during a typically busy time of the year, and I look forward to incorporating more rest into future Mardi Gras seasons.