Mardi Gras 155 Years Ago

Mardi Gras is huge here along the Gulf Coast region due to our French Catholic heritage.  It was Mobile and not New Orleans where Mardi Gras began.  And the tradition eventually gravitated west.  As for me, I'm not a Catholic and do not celebrate the holiday.  But my sweet tooth heartily embraces king cakes, and I greatly appreciate the two days off from school.


Part of the celebrations surrounding Mardi Gras involves dressing up in costumes.  In the following article from February 25th, 1863, published in The Times Picayune, it seems that men and women decided to masquerade as each other in New Orleans.  And they were arrested for it.  Interesting that they were specifically apprehended for masquerading "out of season."  So I assume it would have typically been acceptable - or at least not a crime - to cross-dress during the season.   Mardi Gras falls in either February or March every year, depending on when Easter is.  Therefore, the holiday was over at the time of the incident, or it was late that year.
 

At the time, states across the country had laws and ordinances against cross-dressing, which presented a risk to women specifically who wanted to serve their country during the Civil War because they had to do so disguised as men since women weren't allowed to become soldiers.  Quite a few female soldiers ended up in jail and/or having to pay fines after they were discovered.

It wasn't until modern times when some cities officially rescinded their laws and ordinances.  As a matter of fact, the city of Chicago didn't repeal theirs until the 1970's coming on the heels of the passage of Title IX.

Until next formation....rest.