Twelfth Night kicks off Carnival
Broadside announcing the first bal masque of the Twelfth Night Revelers (courtesy the Louisiana Research Collection at Tulane University)
Twelfth Night
It’s the start of Carnival season. We’ve done a podcast on Twelfth Night that you’ll enjoy listening to. The roots of the Feast of the Epiphany are deep. So much of European Catholicism involves co-opting older traditions. Celebrating King’s Day is one of those co-opts. Rather than human sacrifice, the priests shifted the focus to baby Jesus. What’s important is to allow the people to continue celebrating. And celebrate they did.
Twelfth Night Revelers
The first formal Twelfth Night celebration in New Orleans happened in 1870, when the Twelfth Night Revelers TNR held their first bal masque. TNR appeared on the Carnival scene thirteen years after Comus (1857). TNR chose the first day of Carnival for their celebration, rather than the last. Because their ball opened the season, it evolved into an important event in the debutante season.
Phunny Phorty Phellows
The Storyville Stompers play the 2009 ride of the Phunny Phorty Phellows (courtesy Bart Everson)
The Phunny Phorty Phellows (PPP) continued their tradition of announcing the start of the Carnival season last night. While the original PPP rode on horseback, the current incarnation rides streetcars. The PPP ride the traditional “party car” route. View Richard Vallon’s video of the PPP rolling out last night.
They start at Carrollton Station, then ride down S. Carrollton and St. Charles Avenues. At Tivoli Circus, the streetcars make the entire circle, returning to the streetcar barn the way they rode out. Because PPP started when only the St. Charles Line (with its 35 1923-vintage arch roofs) existed, they had no other options.
More Streetcar Parades
A second streetcar celebration followed the PPP last night, the Funky Uptown Krewe (FUK. Yes, we’ll abbreviate it that way, too.) A much-younger group boarded a streetcar after the PPP’s departure from Carrollton Station. It doesn’t get any better. Additionally, the La Société Pas Si Secrète Des Champs-Élysées (Not So Secret Society of Elysian Fields) rides Von Dullen streetcars along the Canal and N. Rampart lines.
Orleans Image Consulting
The video of last night’s PPP ride is courtesy of Richard Vallon and Orleans Image Consulting. Thanks, Richard!
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