Traditions

---

Krewe de la Joie (French for joy) is a Eureka Springs Mardi Gras krewe that steps out during Mardi Gras season, combined with social activities throughout the year. Each krewe has a unique identity. These krewes are more than just parade organizers; they embody the spirit of Eureka Springs. Krewe de la Joie celebrates Eureka Springs Mardi Gras with Krewe of Krazo (Ozark backwards), Krewe of Barkus (parade of dogs),  Krewe du Kork (feasting at local restaurants), and Krewe of Kazoo (listen for the music).

Eureka Springs Mardi Gras began when Krewe of Krazo was formed, following Hurricane Katrina that relocated many New Orleans residents. Eureka Springs has so many similarities to NOLA with its “anything for a parade” attitude, eclectic people, diverse businesses, friendly atmosphere, and history.  

From humble beginnings, we have grown to a vibrant social club.  Krewe de la Joie begins Mardi Gras season with a formal ball, offering a variety of themes.  We theme spark the formal ball to make it exciting for the night.  In 2024, we offered a murder mystery and continue to create spectacular experiences every year.  Mardi Gras ends on Fat Tuesday, and we throw a party to be remembered.  Mardi Gras is quite the spectacle - but there are a lot of hidden secrets and behind-the-scenes magic that bring the celebration to life. The Krewe has a king cake at the formal ball and Fat Tuesday.  

It’s during this time period that king cakes make their debut - and fly off the shelves all season long. King Cake is typically made with brioche dough, braided, laced with cinnamon, and then glazed with the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and gold. In contrast, others are filled with delicious things like cream cheese, fruit preserves, and praline filling. A plastic baby is hidden inside; whoever finds the baby must buy the next cake or host the next party.

Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" and is the celebratory carnival that leads up to the beginning of Lent, the season of fasting and penitence. It gets its name from the practice of consuming foods that would be forbidden during Lent, leading up to the beginning of the fast on Ash Wednesday. 

Mardi Gras is more than just a day, it's an entire season. Carnival season begins on Twelfth Night (January 6) and ends on Fat Tuesday. The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. These are said to have been chosen in 1892 when the Rex Parade theme "Symbolism of Colors" gave the colors their meanings. Purple - Justice. Green - Faith. Gold - Power.

Mardi Gras is a centuries-old tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages. Mardi Gras’ origins can be traced back to types of ancient pagan festivals and medieval European traditions, celebrations held in anticipation of spring. Upon the arrival of Christianity to Europe, these festivals morphed into religious holidays, as it was easier to combine rather than abolish the region’s established traditions into the new religion. These specific festivals' dates coincided with the Easter holiday. Thus, Mardi Gras became the six-week prelude to Lent, the 40-day period of fasting that precedes Easter. Today, it is one of the world's most colorful and vibrant festivals, featuring party-like parades, elaborate costumes, lively music, and indulgent feasting.  It was initially celebrated by European Christians as a way to mark the beginning of Lent and prepare for the fasting season of Easter.

Carnival is popularly celebrated in the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago's Port of Spain, and El Callao, Venezuela. Epitomized by its vibrantly colored floats and costumes, massive parades, and an abundance of food, music, and festivities, cities that play host to large Carnival celebrations experience massive influxes of tourist traffic before and during the festival. Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival is considered the biggest in the world, with roughly 2,000,000 people celebrating each day. 

Mardi Gras is believed to have arrived in North American in 1699, when the French-Canadian explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville held a small gala downriver from New Orleans. A few year later, French soldiers and settlers feasted and wore masks as a part of Mardi Gras festivities in the newly founded city of Mobile. To this day, Mobile, Alabama claims to have the oldest annual Mardi Gras celebration in the United States. 

Mardi Gras got going in New Orleans in 1718, but the Spanish ruled the Big Easy from 1762-1800 and cracked down on the rituals. US authorities took control in 1803 and banned masked balls and public disguises. The first recorded Mardi Gras street parade took place in 1837, when New Orleans had become a major metropolis. In 1857, a secret society was formed with a parade and a lavish ball, and established New Orleans as the epicenter in the US.