A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....02-24-04....Let's Celebrate Mardi Gras!

Dutchess

[dutchess]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_bear, dansangel, Dutchess, Aquamarine,

It's Mardi Gras Time!

History

In Christian communities around the world, the 40 days preceding Easter comprise Lent, a period of fasting and penitence. It begins with Ash Wednesday, the day many Catholics go to church to receive the sign of the cross marked in ash on their foreheads, its purpose being to remind them of their own mortality. The Mardi Gras season begins on January 6 and continues until Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. For much of the country the Tuesday before Lent is just that, a Tuesday, but in New Orleans this Tuesday is "Mardi Gras" or "Fat Tuesday", representing the last gasp of decadence before a period of austerity.

When French-Canadian explorer Pierre Le Moyne, Sleur d'lberville, landed on a plot of ground about 70 miles down river from the present location of New Orleans on Mardi Gras, Mar. 3, 1699, he christened it Pointe du Mardi Gras.

Masks, Music, and Mayhem

French royals, feather-covered showgirls, painted clowns, masked lions-you can find them all (and countless others) in the streets of New Orleans at Mardi Gras. By dawn on that most famous Tuesday, people have claimed the best spots on the streets to watch fabulous floats, outrageous performers, and visiting celebrities go by. Many travel hundreds of miles to be a part of the excitement. Marching bands, some of them founded more than a century ago, also take to the streets with music and festive dress. They open the day by spreading jazz music through the city before the more than 350 floats and 15,000 costumed paraders take over the scene. Crazy costumes and wild makeup are the order of the day for paraders and parade-watchers alike. The most lavish get-ups can be seen at the cross-dressing beauty pageants in the French Quarter, where bawdy costuming may reach new heights (over seven feet, in heels.)

Krewes: New Orleans Royalty

Mardi Gras has long combined wild street activities open to everyone with events organized by private clubs known as krewes. Today, thousands of people belong to about 60 krewes that plan the parades and balls of New Orleans' Mardi Gras. The oldest krewe, the Krewe of Comus, was founded in 1857.

In 1872 the Russian grand duke Alexis Romanoff visited New Orleans at Mardi Gras. A group of businessmen organized the Krewe of Rex to host a parade for the occasion, and appointed a "king for the day" so that the grand duke could have a royal reception. Naming kings and queens at Mardi Gras balls has been a tradition of the krewes ever since. Another tradition began with that royal visit: the Romanoff house colors-purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power-became the official colors of Mardi Gras.

The Krewe of Iris, a ladies only krewe, was formed in 1917 and held its first parade in 1959. Today it has over 500 members.

Catch the Throws

The millions of colorful beaded necklaces thrown from floats are the most visible symbols and souvenirs of Mardi Gras. In addition, millions of cups and toy coins known as "doubloons" are decorated with krewe logos and thrown to parade-watchers. Some "throws" are especially prized: only the luckiest folks manage to take home the hand-decorated coconuts from the Krewe of Zulu.

Bals Masque and the King Cake

One of the highlights of Mardi Gras are the balls held by the krewes where a king is crowned. A huge cake, called the King Cake, is prepared and a piece is served to every attendee. In one of the pieces is hidden a tiny doll said to represent Jesus. If you are lucky enough to get that piece, you will have good luck for the entire year. Unfortunately, you have to provide the King Cake for next year's Bal Masque.

All Things Change

While families still flock to the parades, the demographics of Mardi Gras have been changing. Especially in the French Quarter, the festivities have taken on a Spring Break atmosphere, attracting visitors more interested in drunken escapades and flashes of nudity than Mardi Gras' cultural significance and storied pageantry.

An FR Finest Mardi Gras

We, the Finest Hostesses, invite you to take on the BEST of the traditions…..let's share our food, our company….and celebrate FAT TUESDAY FREEPER STYLE!!!!!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 02-23-04 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[dutchess]

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, One Nation Under God, Indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for All.

[dutchess]

It's Fat Tuesday....or the last day of MardiGras. Please join us...and feel free to bring your favorite food, beverage or graphic!

[dutchess]

Am looking forward to my morning cup of coffee (as I slink off to bed). Dreams of bread pudding with that first cup in the morning. Total decadence!....

[JohnHuang2]

G'morning, my friend :-)

[JohnHuang2]

Great job, btw!

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Dutchess.

[The Raven]

Beautiful work.....

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Fat Tuesday!

Have a cup while you Freep !

[mhking]

" Laissez les bon temps roulez!"

My dad's family is originally from New Orleans, and we've still got LOTS of relatives down there...[g]

[The Mayor]

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God's love cannot be explained—it can only be experienced

[The Mayor]

February 24, 2004

A Mysterious Equation

Read: Colossians 1:9-18

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:8

Bible In One Year: Numbers 9-11; Mark 5:1-20

---

Professor John Nash of Princeton University is a math genius who has spent his life in the abstract world of numbers, equations—and delusions. Nash suffers from schizophrenia, a mental illness that can result in bizarre behavior and broken relationships. With medical help and the love of his wife, he learned to live with his illness and later won the Nobel Prize.

In the movie version of his life, Nash said: "I've always believed in numbers and the equations and logics that lead to reason. . . . My quest has taken me through the physical, the metaphysical, the delusional, and back. And I've made the most important discovery of my life. It's only in the mysterious equations of love that any logical reasons can be framed."

In Colossians 1, we read of "the mysterious equation of love" at its deepest level—God's love for us in Christ. Jesus is the image of the invisible God, and out of love He has created us and sustains us (vv.16-17). He has also provided deliverance from the powers of darkness (v.13) and the forgiveness of our sins (v.14). No wonder Paul said that such love "passes knowledge" (Ephesians 3:19). It takes us beyond logic into the very heart of who God is (1 John 4:16).

We are to live and show that love—always. —Dennis De Haan

FOR FURTHER STUDY
How do we experience the love of Christ? (John 15:10).
What is the evidence of God's love in our lives? (1 John 4:16-21).
How can you show God's love today?

God's love cannot be explained—it can only be experienced.

[dansangel]

Beautiful (and my favorite color) presentation (((((((dutchess)))))). Thank you for enlightening us on the tradition of Mardi Gras.

((((((Hugs)))))))) to all. Have a safe and Blessed day.

[The Mayor]

I never realized what Mardi Gras was all about.

Far from what we see today.

[DollyCali]

Ah ~~~ CARNIVAL

Thank you for great thread. My good friend is now in Rio for carnival. What fun!

[GailA]

Good Morning FRiends. I'm off to the quilting guild meeting in about an hour. Coffee's on

[SheLion]

Hi dutchess! Hi Everyone! Happy Fat Tuesday!!

[lonestar]

My favorite King Cake is filled with cream cheese. Fat-fat Tuesday.

[Physicist]

Here in Pennsylvania we call it Fasnacht Day. You pretty much sit around and eat doughnuts.

[Texagirl4W]

Good morning, dutchess. Being a native of south Louisiana, I really enjoyed the pictures. Happy Fat Tuesday to everyone.

[Aquamarine]

You did a fantastic job on the opening post and I love what you did with the hostess pictures.

Happy Mardi Gras to all!

I won't be around much this week, we lost a beloved friend in an accident and will be spending time with his family and attending the funeral in another town.