“Hey You! Anti-Semite!”: A Jewish Krewe does Mardi Gras
http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/culture/6783/_hey_you__anti_semite__a_jewish_krewe_does_mardi_gras/February 8, 2013
By BARBRA BARNETT
Barbra Barnett has a Ph.D. in Religious Ethics from the University of Chicago, a law degree from The George Washington University Law School, and has taught college classes on religion in America in Chicago and New Orleans. Her writing focuses on religious differences in contemporary democratic society and their implications for constitutional law jurisprudence.
"Laughter, satire, holy intentions..." Photo by the author of royal duo Jerry Jacobs and Wendy Thornton on the 2013 Krewe du Jieux parade float.
While the parades of Fat Tuesday, thronged with tourists, are the very definition of New Orleans Mardi Gras in our cultural imagination, the carnival season actually begins on January 6th. One of the early events is the Krewe du Vieux, a parade that is—if such a thing is possible—more transgressive, more out there, than those of the big day.
I had heard about one club that marches in Krewe du Vieux, that, as a recent Jewish transplant to the Big Easy, I really had to see for myself: the Krewe du Jieux.
It was a warm, sunny afternoon, Saturday, January 19, and the streets of the French Quarter were teeming with day-drinkers long before that night’s parades lined up.
Krewe du Vieux is one of the best loved and crudest of carnival season spectacles. The parade’s theme was “Krewe du Vieux Comes Early,” playing on the early date of Mardi Gras this year and the adult themes of many of the parade’s sub-krewes. One float featured an oversized Energizer Bunny (“He Keeps Coming”) with a giant erection. Other floats focused on civic grievances—one float mocking Governor Jindal’s health care policy. Another float predicted the death of local journalism with an altar of skulls and the riddle: “What’s Black and White and Dead All Over?” The smaller and lesser-known “Krewe Delusion” followed with its own share of satire and adult themes.
more at link
= new reply since forum marked as read
I never knew about this Krewe, that could have been fun. I wonder how many don't realize it is satire? 
It's almost exclusively satire and, imo, the funniest parade by far.
One of the few parades where you might not want to take your children, lol.
I worked on Bourbon Street (waitress) my first Mardi Gras in NOLA - long, long ago.
After having kids, it became a wonderful family event.
Then, in the last 4 years there, I actually rode in the amazing Krewe of Muses.
I came a long way, baby!
This is the big weekend leading up to the big day and I sure wish I was there.
Hey, I might have seen you before. It is possible we frequented some of the same places.
but that was two years ago. Lots of BP and Tea Party themed floats back then! It is known as the local's favorite parade becuase many of them leave town for vacation shortly after for the duration of parade season. I vaguely remember the Crewe de Jieux from 2011, but then again, everything I remember from that day is foggy. Good times! 
I keep seeing news about parade season and it makes me miss the time I spent in NOLA more and more each day! 
aimed at tourists at all.
It allows small local groups to participate and has very few rules for membership or about content.
It is nothing like your typical Mardi Gras parade, and that's one of the things that makes it a spoof in and of itself.
I also really miss NOLA at this time of year. Today is a big day with two days to go.
Happy Mardi Gras!!
