Mystic society
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A mystic society is a Carnival organization, very similar to a krewe in New Orleans, that presents parades and/or balls for the enjoyment of its members, guests, and the public.[1] The term came to be used in this context in Mobile, Alabama.[1] Mystic society membership is secret.[1] Mobile's mystic societies build colorful Carnival floats and parade throughout downtown during the Carnival season with masked society members tossing small gifts, known as throws, to the parade spectators.[2] The throws can take the form of trinkets, candy, cookies, peanuts, panties, artificial roses, stuffed animals, doubloons, cups, hats, can coolers, Frisbees, medallion necklaces, bead necklaces of every variety, and Moon Pies.[1] Mystic societies in Mobile give formal masquerade balls, known as bal masqués, which are almost always invitation only and are oriented to adults.[1] Attendance at a ball requires a strict dresscode be followed that usually involves full-length evening gowns, white tie with tails for invited guests, and masked costumes for society members.[1] The bal masqués feature dramatic entertainment, music, dancing, food, and drinks.[1] Bal masqués are usually based on a theme which is carried out through scenery, decorations, costumes, and sometimes a tableau vivant.[1] Much of the memorabilia from these occasions can be viewed at the Mobile Carnival Museum.
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[edit] History
Mobile first celebrated Carnival in 1703 when French settlers began the festivities at the Old Mobile Site.[3] Mobile's first informal Carnival society was organized in 1711 with the Boeuf Gras Society (Fatted Ox Society).[4] Since that time mystic societies have evolved into much more complex organizations and membership has been formed by various groups such as either co-workers, bachelors, women, African Americans, Jews, married women, married couples, gays and lesbians, or open membership, including visitors.[4] [5]
Mobile's Cowbellion de Rakin Society was the first formally organized and masked mystic society in the United States to celebrate with a parade in 1830.[3][6] The Cowbellions got their start when a cotton factor from Pennsylvania, Michael Krafft, began a parade with rakes, hoes, and cowbells.[6] The Cowbellions introduced horse-drawn floats to the parades in 1840 with a parade entitled, “Heathen Gods and Goddesses.[4] The Striker's Independent Society was formed in 1843 and is the oldest remaining mystic society in the United States.[4] The idea of mystic societies was exported to New Orleans in 1856 when six businessmen, formerly of Mobile, gathered at a club room in New Orlean's French Quarter to organize a secret society, inspired by the Cowbellion de Rakin Society, that would observe Mardi Gras with a formal parade. They founded New Orleans' first and oldest krewe, the Mistick Krewe of Comus.[7] Carnival celebrations in Mobile were cancelled during the American Civil War.
Mardi Gras parades were revived by Joe Cain in 1866 when he paraded through the city streets on Fat Tuesday while costumed as a fictional Chickasaw chief named Slacabamorinico, irreverently celebrating the day in front of the occupying Union Army troops.[8] The Order of Myths, Mobile's oldest mystic society which continues to parade, was founded in 1867 and held its first parade on Mardi Gras night in 1868.[4] The Infant Mystics also begin to parade on Mardi Gras night in 1868, but later moved their parade to Lundi Gras (Fat Monday).[4] The Mobile Carnival Association was formed in 1871 to coordinate the events of Mardi Gras, this year also saw the first Royal Court held with the first king of Carnival, Emperor Felix I.[4] The Comic Cowboys of Wragg Swamp were established in 1884, along with their mission of satire and free expression.[4] The Continental Mystic Crew mystic society was founded in 1890, it was Mobile's first Jewish mystic society.[3] The Order of Doves mystic society was founded in 1894 and held its first Mardi Gras ball. It was the first organized African American mystic society in Mobile.[3]
The Infant Mystics, the second oldest society that continues to parade, introduced the first electric floats to Mobile in 1929.[4] The Colored Carnival Association was founded and had its first parade in 1939, it would later be renamed the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association.[3] The Mobile Colored Carnival Association installed the first African American Mardi Gras court in 1940 with the coronation of King Elexis I and his queen.[9] The Order of Osiris, the first gay and lesbian mystic society in Mobile, held its first ball in 1980.[4] The Mobile International Carnival Ball was first held in 1995 with every known Mobile mystic society in attendance.[4] The Order of Outowners mystic society was founded in 2001 with the mission of being a more modern and inclusive society than the traditional ones in Mobile, offering ball tickets for sale to the general public.[3]
[edit] Past and present societies
Some of the mystic societies in Mobile (not all-inclusive):[3][4][9]
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[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Mardi Gras Terminology". "Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau". Retrieved on 2007-11-28.
- ^ Houston, Susan. "Mobile; It Has History", The News & Observer, News & Observer Publishing Company, (Raleigh, NC), 2007-02-04. Retrieved on 2007-05-22.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Mobile Mardi Gras Timeline". "The Museum of Mobile". Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "History". "Mobile Carnival Museum". Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
- ^ "Carnival/Mobile Mardi Gras Timeline" (list of events by year), Museum of Mobile, 2001, webpage: MoM-timeline.
- ^ a b "Mardi Gras - Mobile's Paradoxical Party". "The Wisdom of Chief Slacabamorinico". Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
- ^ Arthur B. LaCour, New Orleans Masquerade: Chronicles of Carnival (Pelican Publishing 1952)
- ^ "Joe Cain Articles" (newspaper story), Joe Danborn & Cammie East, Mobile Register, 2001, webpage: CMW-history.
- ^ a b "MAMGA History". "Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association". Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
