Mardi What?
If you haven’t picked up on a general theme in some of my posts, or if you don’t know me very well. You may not have noticed that I am in LOVE with New Orleans. Music, Food, Culture, just the FEEL of the place. I often put on my Rebirth Brass Band CDs and wish we had this genre in Australia. Oh how I want to participate in a second line.
So, If I’m in Australia for Mardi Gras next year, I decided I wanted to have a Mardi Gras party – king cake, costumes, beads, Cajun food and music (maybe just Al Johnsons “Mardi Gras” on repeat).
But then I realised, I live in Australia. And here the only connotation Mardi Gras has is the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney. When I came home from the US last time and told people I went to Mardi Gras people actually asked why I went there if I’m straight.
Don’t get me wrong, I have no issue with the term Mardi Gras being appropriated by the Gay and Lesbian population of Australia, but it would be nice if people could look further than that event here, and understand that Mardi Gras and Carnival happens all around the world. And that our version is not the only one.
I love Australia, but sometimes the lack of depth of culture horrifies me. Yes we are a young country by most others standards, but for somewhere so multicultural, sometimes there is just a galaxy of misunderstanding. I know this happens everywhere – I was told when I was in Seattle that none of the musicians had come back to New Orleans and it was a waste of time going there. It happens, there will always be miscommunication and misunderstandings, this one however, just frustrates me.
I’m pretty sure my need to throw a party has been fuelled by Sookies talk of the amazing celebrations and parties she has thrown in the past, and continues to throw in other countries. But I really just want to get together with my good friends to listen to some amazing New Orleans music, eat some good old New Orleans food, drink Cafe du monde coffee and don’t forget the Mint Julep for the drinkers. Just Laissez le bon temps rouler.
So again, I’m contemplating fleeing the country for Mardi Gras, and maybe checking out Cajun Mardi Gras. Chasing a chicken and all that, but I also put in an application to go work at Jazzfest. One or the other.
Will any of you come to my mardi gras party?
