Mardi Gras float (Photo : Reuters)
Possibly the biggest story at this year's Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans was the weather. Temperatures were near freezing, which made wearing skimpy costumes quite challenging.
In fact, the weather was also much colder than the day before. It was almost 30 degrees Fahrenheit higher on Monday, according to USA Today.
Every year about one million people visit New Orleans for 1.5 months of partying. Afterwards, the somber Christian season of Lent starts.
However, the weather did not cause crowds to stay home. They showed up to watch Zulu, the first huge parade of the day; and Rex, one of the fanciest ones.
It was so cold during the Zulu parade that women riding on the "maids" float wore quilted jackets over their gowns. They were simply too chilly to display their costumes, which contained much purple, green, and gold.
In 1872 these three colors became the official colors of Mardi Gras. During that year some businessmen crowned the winner, "Rex, king of Carnival."
Sometimes costumes were able to cover cold-weather clothing well, such as baggy clowns' outfits. Other times they were more visible, such as by wearing pants under tutus.
After Rex were two "truck parades," which were quite long. These parades consist of flatbed trailers that floats are built up on, which themselves are adorned with costume-wearing riders.
Although the weather was nearly freezing, the participants and crowd alike took helpful steps since "the show must go on." For example, some people served free gumbo, a type of stew containing meat or fish, and usually okra.
In a serious event, on Tuesday two people fell from different floats during one of the truck parades. Fortunately the 24-year-old woman was to be released, and the condition of the 23-year-old man was stable, according to Yahoo.
