Legend has it that the word "krewe" came from the old English spelling for the word "crew." A krewe is a social organization or club that parades at Mardi Gras. There has been a custom that goes back to the at least 1857 for krewes to take their names from mythological characters.Here is a partial list of the krewes that are still active in New Orleans, and a bit of their rich history.
RexIn 1872 the krewe of Rex made their debut and began the tradition of the "King of Carnival." Rex also introduced purple, gold and green as the official colors of Mardi Gras. Rex was the first krewe to hold an organized daytime parade and introduced "If Ever I Cease To Love" as the Mardi Gras anthem. One of the high points of Rex is the arrival of the Rex King on a riverboat.
ProteusIn 1882, the Krewe of Proteus made its debut with a parade themed after Egyptian mythology.
ZuluIn 1809 Zulu appeared as a parody of Rex. The Zulu King held a banana stalk scepter and wore a lard can crown. He arrived on on oyster lugger instead of a steamboat. Zulu was destined to become one of the most popular and beloved of all krewes. In 1961 Zulu came under pressure from portions of the black community who thought the krewe presented an undignified image. The king resigned and the parade was almost cancelled, but Zulu survived and was a main attraction by 1969. They have one of the most distinctive throws, the prized golden cocoanuts.
BacchusThe krewe of Bacchus debuted in 1969. Bacchus aimed to bring national attention to Mardi Gras with gigantic floats and a Hollywood celebrity Danny Kaye riding as its king. Bacchus replaced the traditional ball with a supper to which tickets could be purchased by visitors and locals.
ZeusZeus was formed in the Nineteen-Fifties it was the first krewe to parade in Metairie.
Endymion1974 saw Endymion's rise to super krewe status.
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