Podcast Summary
Capital One Venture X Card perks and CVS Easter sale: Capital One Venture X Card offers 2X miles on every purchase and premium travel benefits, while CVS provides a 20% discount on Easter items with promo code 'spring20'.
The Capital One Venture X Card offers cardholders unlimited 2X miles on every purchase and premium travel benefits, including airport lounge access and a $300 annual travel credit. Meanwhile, CVS is offering a 20% discount on Easter basket items now through March 30th using the promo code "spring20". Additionally, the hosts of the "Stuff You Should Know" podcast will be visiting Vancouver and Portland in late March, encouraging fans to attend their shows at the Chan Center and Schnitzer Concert Hall, respectively. While they may not be experts on Mardi Gras, they look forward to learning more about the New Orleans tradition and hope to receive a warm welcome from the city's famous hospitable residents.
Celebrating Mardi Gras with Doug in New Orleans: Mardi Gras is a global festival with various celebrations, rooted in paganism and the Catholic Church's idea of indulgence before Lent, and New Orleans is just one of its famous locations.
Mardi Gras is a part of the larger festival of Carnival, and it's celebrated differently around the world but with the same essence. The speaker shared his experience with a larger-than-life character named Doug, who invited them to his company Boil every year. Mardi Gras, also known as Carnival, is a day of partying and parading before the solemn period of Lent begins. The history of Mardi Gras has converged in New Orleans, but it's important to note that Mardi Gras is just one day in the Carnival season. The speaker also shared some interesting tidbits about the origins of Mardi Gras, which has roots in paganism and the Roman Catholic Church's idea of indulging before the period of fasting. The speaker also shared some misconceptions about the origins of Mardi Gras and Carnival, such as the belief that New Orleans had the first Mardi Gras celebration. Overall, the conversation highlighted the rich history and cultural significance of Mardi Gras and Carnival.
Mardi Gras: From Chaotic Street Parties to Organized Events: Mardi Gras began as spontaneous street parties, leading to the formation of the first parade krewe in 1857, bringing order and structure to the festivities and transforming it into the organized event we know today.
Mardi Gras, a celebration known for its grand parades and masked revelry, has roots in pagan practices and was influenced by the French. Originating from the idea of using up perishable items before they spoiled, early Mardi Gras celebrations were marked by spontaneous street parties that often resulted in chaos. In response, in 1857, a group of people from Mobile, Alabama, formed the mystic Krewe of Comus, bringing order to the festivities and transforming Mardi Gras into the organized event we know today. This group, which functions as a nonprofit and charity organization, marked the beginning of the more structured parades and parade krewes that are a hallmark of modern Mardi Gras.
Mardi Gras Krewes' Evolution from Anonymous Groups to Organized Parade Producers: Mardi Gras krewes started as secretive groups, but now are large, well-funded organizations that put on parades and balls. Originally, anonymity was crucial, but today it's more of a light-hearted tradition. The first recorded parade was in 1857, and traditions like electing a king or queen and throwing beads began in the late 1800s.
The Mardi Gras krewes, which started as anonymous groups in New Orleans, have evolved over time into large, well-funded organizations that put on parades and masquerade balls during Mardi Gras. Originally, these groups were secretive and wore masks to protect their identities. However, anonymity is less important today, and being a member is more of a light-hearted thing. The tradition of electing a king or queen for each parade began in 1872, and the idea of throwing beads to the crowd also originated that year. The colors associated with Mardi Gras – purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power – were supposedly adopted by the crew of Rex, but this is a myth. The tradition of calling out "Throw me something, Mister" likely began as a way to recognize people who exemplified the parade's themes, but it has since evolved into something different. Despite advancements in society, it's unclear if this tradition still exists. The first recorded Mardi Gras parade took place in 1857, and the tradition has continued, with some interruptions, ever since.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans: More Than Just a Party: Mardi Gras generates half a billion dollars in revenue for New Orleans, but planning is key for an authentic experience. Autonomous crews and neighborhoods run the event, not a single committee, and Airbnb hosting during major events can be profitable.
New Orleans is known for its lively atmosphere and festive events, particularly Mardi Gras, which brings in around half a billion dollars in revenue for the city every year. However, participating in Mardi Gras requires advanced planning and can result in a unique experience, such as camping in a van instead of booking a hotel. Contrary to popular belief, there's no single corporate sponsor or committee overseeing Mardi Gras; instead, it's a collection of autonomous crews and neighborhoods. While some crews may have sponsors, it's not customary and can be looked down upon. If you're considering becoming an Airbnb host in New Orleans during a major event, it could be an opportunity to make extra money. Zigazoo, on the other hand, is a safe social media platform for kids to share content and interact with friends without the risks of commenting or text messaging.
Mardi Gras Parades and Concerts in New Orleans: A Tradition Continues: Iconic bands perform at Mardi Gras concerts, parades are led by social aid and pleasure clubs, and traditions like wearing grass skirts and blackface remain controversial.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is known for its extravagant parades and concerts, with iconic bands like Sticks and Train performing. The Superdome is usually the venue, but due to construction, the location has changed this year. The parades are put on by various social aid and pleasure clubs, with some, like Endamont and Zulu, having hundreds of members and throwing out millions of beads and other items. The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, which has a long history, also holds a ball where Dougie Fresh will perform this year. The clubs originated as a way for communities, particularly African Americans, to provide financial support for their members in need. Despite controversies over traditions like wearing grass skirts and blackface, these clubs continue to be a significant part of Mardi Gras celebrations.
Mardi Gras Throws: Doubloons, Beads, and King Cake: Mardi Gras in New Orleans includes various throws like doubloons, beads, and king cake. The king cake tradition, which involves eating a sugary oval cake with a hidden baby figure, started in the 1940s but was discontinued due to safety concerns and now comes with a separate baby figure.
Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans involve various forms of souvenirs, known as "throws," which are tossed from floats to the crowd. These throws include items like doubloons, beads, and even coconuts (though the latter may no longer be used due to legal reasons). One popular tradition is the king cake, a sugary oval cake with a hidden plastic baby figure, which is eaten during the Mardi Gras season, which runs from January 6 to Ash Wednesday. The king cake tradition started in the 1940s but was discontinued due to safety concerns. Now, the baby figure comes in a separate package, and the baker's instructions advise caution when inserting it into the cake. During our visits to New Orleans, we have experienced the king cake tradition with friends and have enjoyed various Mardi Gras throws.
Mardi Gras: Ancient Traditions with Deep Roots: Mardi Gras, rooted in ancient traditions from Egypt, Greece, and Rome, is celebrated in New Orleans with king cake, parades, and masked balls. Lasting from Jan 6th to Mar 9th, it's organized by krewe groups with ancient deity names.
New Orleans' Mardi Gras celebrations have deep historical roots, with traditions such as king cake, parades, and masked balls tracing back to ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. The season, which leads up to the day of Mardi Gras, officially begins on January 6th and can last until March 9th, depending on when Easter falls. The parades and events during this time are organized by various "krewe" groups, many of which have names inspired by ancient deities. Despite some changes and adaptations over the centuries, the connection to these historical roots is acknowledged and celebrated by the current traditions.
Ensuring Kids' Social Media Interactions are Safe with Zigazoo: Parents can use Zigazoo, a safe and moderated social media platform for kids, to allow them to interact with friends and try trends without commenting or text messaging.
Parents can ensure their children's social media interactions are positive and safe by using Zigazoo, the world's largest social media network for kids. Unlike other platforms, Zigazoo offers a fun, moderated environment where kids can upload content, interact with friends, and try out trends without commenting or text messaging. The platform is human-moderated and only allows real, verified kids as members, eliminating bots, trolls, and AI. This spring break, consider letting your kids share vacation blogs and best edits with their friends on Zigazoo. Meanwhile, if you're looking for ways to make extra money, consider renting out your home or extra room on Airbnb during events or tournaments when many fans are visiting. Your property might be worth more than you think. Mardi Gras parades have unique themes, and the super crews, with their large budgets and manpower, typically build their floats from scratch. However, smaller crews may cobble together rented floats to create a cohesive theme. The finite pool of floats available for rent means that the same float can't go through the business district in more than two parades during one Mardi Gras season.
Mardi Gras traditions in New Orleans: Regulations and customs: Mardi Gras in New Orleans is known for its unique regulations, including float usage limits, royalty selection, and mask-wearing. Moon pies have become a beloved throw and symbol of the celebration.
The Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans are taken very seriously, with local laws regulating various aspects of the parades to ensure freshness and interest. For instance, floats can only be used a certain number of times during the grass season in specific parishes. Additionally, the selection of royalty can be random or based on payment, and costumes and masks are a significant part of the tradition. Moon pies have become a popular throw to replace potentially dangerous items, and their soft texture makes them a beloved southern treat. The mask-wearing tradition is deeply ingrained in Mardi Gras history, with some parades enforcing strict rules against removing masks. Overall, the intricacies of Mardi Gras in New Orleans reveal a rich cultural history and tradition that continues to thrive.
Close bedroom doors before sleeping for added safety: Closing bedroom doors before bed can increase safety during house fires and provide valuable time for firefighters to rescue occupants
The simple act of closing your bedroom doors before going to bed can significantly increase your safety in the event of a house fire. This practice, known as "Close Before You Doze," has been proven effective through extensive testing and can provide valuable time for firefighters to conduct search and rescue operations. The story of how this practice came to be involves a coal miner from Kentucky and the Southern tradition of throwing moon pies during Mardi Gras celebrations, but the importance of this fire safety tip should not be overlooked. Despite personal preferences or circumstances, making it a habit to close bedroom doors can potentially save lives.
A new social media platform for kids: Zigazoo: Zigazoo is a kid-safe social media platform where children can create, share videos, and enjoy kid-friendly content, all moderated by real people for safety.
There's a new social media platform called Zigazoo, specifically designed for kids. It's a place where children can create and share videos, with content being moderated by real people for safety. The platform has built-in privacy protections, ensuring a kid-safe environment. Meanwhile, on a different note, the 500 Greatest Songs podcast explores the greatest songs ever made, shedding light on their influence and significance. From classic hits like Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" and The Ronettes' "Be My Baby," to modern classics like The Killers' "Mr. Brightside," listeners can enjoy these musical gems on various podcast platforms.
