As storied as New Orleans Carnival is, many aspects remain unexplored. Because Mardi Gras and the city itself are so diverse, there are seemingly endless nooks and crannies to sift through. We attend balls, watch parades, and take headpiece workshops, but do we really know why things are done the way they are, or what happens behind the scenes? I, for one, still have plenty of questions. Where do the floats go in the offseason? Do the flambeaux ever get hurt? Who designs the Queen of Carnival’s shoes? And who decided it was okay to put cream cheese in a king cake? The true magic of the celebration lies in the intangible gumbo of ideas, rituals and customs, but for the next best thing, there are several books exploring the more niche topics of Mardi Gras, with a little lagniappe mixed in.
For example, Reid Mitchell, author of “All on a Mardi Gras Day” writes about the often-dramatic history of Carnival. A synopsis reads, “Mitchell tells us some of the most intriguing stories of Carnival since 1804. Woven into his narrative are observations of the meaning and messages of Mardi Gras—themes of unity, exclusion, and elitism course through these tales as they do through the Crescent City.” Another great read is “Mardi Gras Treasures: Costume Designs of the Golden Age;” a look through costume and invitation designs going back through the 1870’s. And, if you consider yourself a King Cake connoisseur, you might want to read “The Big Book of King Cake” to test your knowledge. The drool worthy photographs and stories behind the bakeries who make the infamous cakes are a fun read even for the sweet averse.
If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for and have the gumshoe spirit, The Historic New Orleans Collection boasts an unmatched treasure trove of New Orleans history. I asked Lydia Blackmore, curator at the Historic New Orleans Collection, which topics she would like to see more explored. She offered, “As the Mardi Gras Curator for the Historic New Orleans Collection my research never ends, but if I had to choose a topic, I’d like to see more books that pull inspiration from the historic material culture and question the cultural practices and pop culture that inspire them. I love comparing a ball invitation, parade bulletin and costume design from the same year and thinking of what else was going on in the world at the time.” She adds, “I’m a mom of two small kids and our whole family costumes each year for Carnival. I’d love to see more books on how to create costumes for the whole family.”
If in the end, you decide you’d rather read something fictional with a little Mardi Gras sprinkled in the background, The Garden District Book Shop recommends fun books, like “The Seamstress of New Orleans”, “The Devil’s Muse” and “Mardi Gras Murder.”
For even more Carnival history and musings, you can listen to the Beyond the Beads podcast!
Happy Carnival!
“All on a Mardi Gras Day,”
“The Devil’s Muse,”
“Mardi Gras Treasures: Costume Designs of the Golden Age,”
“Unveiling the Muse,”
“The Big Book of King Cake”
Sale & Event Picks:
2/4 -2/5: $25 Tans, Uptown Charm
2/6-2/15 (11am-6pm): Chloe Mardi Gras Market, The Chloe
2/7: New Product Drop, Eclectic Home
2/7 (11am-5pm): La Adorna Pop Up, Porter Lyons (Royal St)
