BY: Morgan Thayer
Mobile is where it all started, the original Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is a time for celebration, beads, moon pies and elaborate floats. The original Mardi Gras began in 1703 when French settlers celebrated at Twenty-Seven Mile Bluff, the first settlement in the city. The celebration in 1711 included a parade, believed to be the first parade in North America, was nothing like the celebration of floats we see today. Over the years, the parades have become more over the top and involved bringing us what we see today in Mobile. Throughout Mobile, masked parading societies otherwise known as mystic societies, fill parades with mystery and excitement. In 1830, the first masked parading society in America appeared in Mobile when Michael Kraft formed the Cowbellian de Rakin Society.
One of our very own AUM students is a member of the Order of the Hebe organization; Ann Shepard. Shepard is a member of the Delta Zeta sorority here on campus, but back home she is the Queen of Hebe. Derived from Greek meaning youth, the order of the Hebe was created to give the youth of Mobile an organization to be a part of to prepare them for the duties and responsibilities of adult organizations.
Shepard has been a member for over six years; the organization prepares year-round for only one day of payoff. Shepard explained to me that “it is way more than just showing up and getting on a float.” Year round the organization meets once a month in preparation for the big day. As Queen, she and her king worked together to pick out things such as the theme for their ball, designing costumes for their members and preparing for themselves and their trains for their big debut as queen and king.
Based on seniority, Shepard was selected to reign as queen for this years Mardi Gras celebration. Ann said the experience as a dream, “It has always been a dream growing up to be queen and this past year of actually living out my dream has meant the world to me.” Being queen also came with many decisions, alongside her king Blake, they chose the theme for their ball; Rock and Roll Fantasy.
The year-long preparation is full of decorations, outfit planning, and crown fittings. All this hard work pays off in the end; the day of the parade. The day of the parade Shepard took her rightful place on the top of her float. This float will be pulled through the streets of downtown Mobile where hundreds of people will be screaming for beads, cups and moon pies to be thrown to them. The parade ends and that’s when the fun begins. Shepard said the process of preparing for her reveal as queen as stressful, “having to get off a float, cross the street with a parade still in progress, change into my gown, touch up my hair and makeup, out on my mask and crown all while knowing there were people waiting downstairs was extremely stressful but surprisingly I remained calm through it all.” The night ends with the king and queen being announced to the organization and each member bowing and showing their respects to the new royalty. Once the king and queen make their rounds showing off their elaborate trains the night continues with dancing and eating and enjoying the timeless tradition of Mardi Gras.
Ann takes great pride in her city and the rich history that accompanies Mardi Gras in Mobile. “Mardi Gras is just fun, it is a big party, and although New Orleans gets a lot of the credit, Mobile will forever be the true birthplace of Mardi Gras.”