Mardi Gras Images and Pictures

Come See the Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras is one of the unique flavors that makes New Orleans great. From the wild and risqué to the humble and apple pie, there are all types of sights to be seen. However, the best thing about Mardi Gras is the community spirit. It is a coming of together of people from all different walks of life and backgrounds. We all join together and have one great party that last from just after the beginning of January to Mardi Gras Day. So whether, you are rich or poor, please join in with us and enjoy some King Cake.

Please do not use any of the images below without written permission from the web mater. Thank You!!!!

George Payne (Copyright 2002 and 2003)

Click on an image below to enlarge.

"Meow Squared"; Shiek (c) 2003

"Stop Clowing Around"; George Payne (c) 2003

"Bronzed Cowboys"; George Payne (c) 2002

"Dragon"; George Payne (c) 2003

"Honey Bee"; George Payne (c) 2002

"He Must be Scottish"; George Payne (c) 2002

"The King and I"; (c) George Payne 2002

"Let's Boil"; (c) George Payne 2002

"All Dressed Up with No Place to Go"; George Payne (c) 2003

"Head Dressed"; George Payne (c) 2003

"Patriotic"; George Payne (c) 2002

"A Tulip for Your Thoughts"; George Payne (c) 2002

Mardi Gras Indian: George Payne (c) 2002

Mardi Gras Indian; George Payne (c) 2002

"Man in the Mirror"; George Payne (c) 2002

Royalty; George Payne (c) 2002

"I Work for Tips"; George Payne (c) 2002

"What did they do to get all those beads?"; George Payne (c) 2002

"All I wanted was a heart"; George Payne (c) 2002

"Trash Man"; George Payne (c) 2003

"Two Clowns"; George Payne (c) 2002

"Two Musicans"; George Payne (c) 2003

"Miss America"; George Payne (c) 2002

"Getting Ready"; George Payne 2003

"Me Scared"; George Payne (c) 2003

"Royal Street"; George Payne (c) 2003

"St. Anns Parade"; George Payne (c) 2003

"Got a Cross to Bear"; George Payne (c) 2003

"Its 8:00am, and I am still asleep"; George Payne (c) 2003

Bourbon Street @ Midnight Before Mardi Gras; George Payne (c) 2003

Another Shot of Bourbon Street at Midnight; George Payne (c) 2003

"Another Angle of Bourbon Street"; George Payne (c) 2003

Parade Float; George Payne (c) 2003

"Keeping the Peace"; George Payne (c) 2003

Night Parade; George Payne (c) 2003

Night Parade; George Payne (c) 2003

View from Parade Route; George Payne 2003

"Pulling a Float"; George Payne 2003

"The End"; George Payne 2003

Mardi Gras History

Mardi Gras' history began in the ancient springtime fertility and purification rituals practiced in Greece. After the Roman conquered Greece, they change the rites into vulgar and lewd revelry. The leaders of the new Christian Church were unable to stop this new "Carnival" that was the prelude to lent. (Believe it or not, for all of New Orleans's Mardi Gras reputation, it wasn't until the past fifteen to twenty years that ours became as risqué as it is today.)

During the middle ages, the French came to celebrate carnival and are credited with naming the holiday "Mardi Gras" or Fat Tuesday, as we know it. They started the custom of masquerading at balls and it was the lavish and opulent balls give by Louis XV that brought grandeur to the event. The French eventually brought Mardi Gras to the New World.

On Mardi Gras day in 1699, French Canadian explorer Sieur d'Iberville rediscovered the Mississippi River and camped on the banks of a bayou he name Pointe du Mardi Gras in honor of the holiday. Sixty miles north of this spot the French settlement of New Orleans was founded in 1718. Soon the customs of Mardi Gras were observed with masked balls and raucous street parades. The carnival season begins on the Twelfth Night, or January sixth and ends on Mardi Gras Day -- the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.