Mardi Gras

so, for whatever reason, this summer i became more obsessed with roxbury than i already was, which i didn't think was possible.  but this little phenomenon of a weekend sealed the deal and i am inevitably obsessed and in love with roxbury forever.  Thank you baumann for helping me out a little with this blog lol


Every year on Labor Day weekend, a little party called Mardi Gras happens.  But, isn't Mardi Gras like 7 months from now in New Orleans for that Christian-Catholic Lent-Easter thing?  Yeah, but this is kinda different.
The typical Mardi Gras is the celebration of indulging the last night before the fasting season of Lent.  During this celebration people wear masks and costumes, dance, listen to music, and have parades.  Crazy things.  This is similar to the Roxbury Mardi Gras, except it is an end of the summer celebration.  The Roxbury Mardi Gras very much so has parades, costumes, music, dancing, and singing.  It's a time to indulge before the season starts to change and the lifeguards put their stands away.  One last party without the stress of school work.  One last time, to finish any unfinished business. There's something about summer being so fleeting, and Mardi Gras is the time to appreciate that it happened and to accept that it's over.


On the surface, Mardi Gras is a 3 day drinking festival, everyone wears costumes, dances, sings/screams, and loses their voices.  I don't know what other combination can be more blissful than that.  Mardi Gras is bliss.  
Every house is decorated with mardi gras paraphernalia.  Lights, streamers, signs, flags, masks, you name it!  

Platforms (aka tents that house DJs and bands and kegs or bud light trucks, whatever your preference) are scattered throughout the little town.  Some are on the beach, some on basketball courts, some on sand, some just in the middle of houses.  
Throughout the nights, we "ramble."  We wander around from platform to platform dancing with our drunk parents, our friends' drunk parents, and our drunk siblings and their friends, who are mostly under 17.  
Costumes are necessary.  Every night.  Otherwise, if you are without a costume, you will look like a fool.  Anything outrageous is usually what you're looking for.
Then.. there are the parades - the children parade and the adult parade, equipped with floats, bands, bagpipes, and costumes.. just because it's mardi gras!  

There are then judging.. actual judges for the best costumes, funniest, and prettiest groups.  The children's parade is funny, but nothing like the adult parade.  And that's when the drinking starts.... (in total, 96 kegs were consumed this past weekend, just sayin)


As exciting as this idea sounds, realistically, it's exhausting.  It's nonstop for 3 days/nights! But, for whatever reason, on mardi gras, there is an unlimited amount of energy. The amount of energy is phenomenal and actually limitless on this weekend.  It's all about having a good time.  If you don't lose your voice by Monday morning, you have failed to have a good time.

I think what was really special about mardi gras this year is that those who haven't been to mardi gras in years, returned.  We all returned from our colleges... from Florida, to Alabama, from Buffalo, to Conneticut, from Pennsylvania and to Boston to come together for the celebrations.  Many, who hadn't even been in Roxbury for the majority of summer, still show up for the end of summer celebration and for the remembrance of past experiences.  The thing about Mardi Gras (and roxbury in general) is that we all love each other.  Nothing will ever happen to us while anyone's around.  We're the best of friends.  No one gets hurt.  

There is really no explanation needed for mardi gras, even if you've experience one day of it, you'd get it.  But, whenever possible, i suggest everyone should dip their lives in a cup of Mardi Gras every once in a while.