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]

God Bless Our Military
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Mama_Bear; Dansangel; Dutchess or Aquamarine and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~

We ask Lord, that You guide the leaders of our great country in their hour of decision. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decisions.

Please give us the strength, Lord, to get through each difficult and devastating day that faces each of us and our country. Protect and guide our Military that are now being called to duty, strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OhioWfan.............................son mystery-ak...........so.n, husband Gogrammy..................grandson Inspectorette........................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..............................nephew anniegetyourgun.............nephew Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one Doug from Upland.......son-in-law weldgophardline.......brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater.............cousin WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep.............................son BeAllYouCan Be.....................son Tiffee4Bob.....................boyfriend The Mayor............................niece consort...2 daughters, son-in-law.. kimmie7...........................brother Texkat.....................son, stepson spruce...........................daughter visualops...cousin, adopted marine cookcounty............................son Rose in Rose Bear..cousin's husband Warrior Nurse..............active duty SK1 Thurman...............active duty David Osborne.............active duty fc2tomschermuly..........active duty LongCut.......................active duty Trish.............................active duty bkwells.........................active duty thumperusn..................active duty

Dubya.....................nephew Maigrey.....................cousin ladtx...........................2 sons Mama_Bear..........nephews gator girl.................husband severa.......husband, brother Hostel........................cousin MozartLover....son, nephew SpookBrat...............nephew Himyar...........................son boxerblues.................2 sons the piper.........................son sheeza.....................husband kemathen7.............husband Diver Dave...niece..nephew deadhead...................cousin JimRobinson.......2 nephews Armymarinemom.......3 sons kneezles.........................son Darheel......................niece dixiesass.................nephew LadyX..................grandson AgThorn...................2 sons valerieUSA..............2 sons StarCMC...............brother katykelly......................son atomic conspiracy.halfbrother atomic conspiracy.niece, nephew ODC-GIRL.....active duty Donaeus.................nephew SunflowerGal.......grandson

[Aquamarine]

Thank you Dutchess. He was very special to us, was the best man in our wedding (many moons ago). He had an accident on his Harley.

[LadyX]

Interpretation = "FREE PASS"

~ Issued to The LadyX for Late Entry
into The Finest Family Room ~
by the Esteemed The Thin Man (by proxy)

M'Lady was late in arriving due to the necessity
of out-of-town travel,
Signed This Day of 24 February 2004 A.D.

_he _hin Man

(hahaha - I, The Rascally Letter Thief, have struck yet again;
today stealing "T" s...hahaha !!)

[LadyX]

I, The LadyX, do hereby declare I will not give up for Lent my dear Carlsbad Caveman and his very special, pencil-stirred coffee....he is my inspiration, and it is what keeps me going....sigh..

[JulieRNR21]

Mardi Gras......Fat Tuesday greetings to all my Finest Friends!

Also celebrating my 39th Birthday again & again & again....today.........LOL

[dutchess]

Happy 39th 39th 39th 39th Birthday Julie

[dutchess]

Well here you are LadyX. Gosh I passed inspection today. Poor TMan must be feeling pretty glum!

[dutchess]

Oh...how tragic. Again, prayers for his family. You guys take care too.

[MeekOneGOP]

haha ! ;^)

Heading out for the day, folks !

I'll see ya'll back here manana !

Have a great day ! ...

[LadyX]

I'm so very sorry for the loss to his family and friends, Aquamarine.
May The Holy Spirit be with all of you.

[deadhead]

Happy Fat Tuesday. Always wanted to go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras...seems like fun.

This guy looks familiar, think I ran into him at a Grateful Dead Show

[dutchess]

LOL...I figured you had probably run into a few like that. I know I have in the Big Easy (and NOT during Mardi Gras!)

[JulieRNR21]

Thanks, Dutchess.

I decided to copy Jack Berry....but maybe you are too young to remember him?

[deadhead]

Good afternoon. I did a google search on The Thin Man and Mardi Gras. This is what I found. Tsk, tsk...I am shocked, just when you think you know someone...

"The Thin Man reaches behind his cloak and pulls out a black bag. With a flourish, he thrusts his hand into and scoops out a large handful of black and silver beaded necklaces. A crowd of women surge forward and surround the pedestal shouting, "Throw me something Mister!"

"He hisses... "Now, to the business at hand... Show us your -"

"His quiet voice is drowned out by the enthusiasm of the crowd, as he starts tossing beads about him."

LOL

[deadhead]

The Mardi Gras thread is awesome, dutchess!

[JustAmy]

Happy 39th!!! Again and again. :)

[dutchess]

His quiet voice is drowned out by the enthusiasm of the crowd, as he starts tossing beads about him.

Oh my.... :o)

[dutchess]

Jack Berry??? (but I did get what you meant....me...I'm 50 something for the next 9 years!)

[dutchess]

Hi Amy. Good to see you here. Happy Fat Tuesday! Off to make some gumbo for dinner. Yum!

[JustAmy]

It's nice to be here, even if only for a short time.

The problem with Amy's Place is that I can't spend as much time here with my friends as I would like.

Happy Fat Tuesday to you and all my Finest Friends.