Members of Comus are always masked when appearing in public at Krewe events, and their identities are supposed to remain unknown. Membership in Comus has historically been identical or nearly identical to membership in the private New Orleans men's club The Pickwick Club.

Parading on Mardi Gras night, Comus was the final parade of the New Orleans carnival season. It was much smaller than both the more modern parades and its fellow 19th century Mardi Gras day parade Rex. (Comus also did not stage parades for a number of years, so that by the late 20th century Rex, although 16 years younger than Comus, had held more parades.) The Comus parades became known for their sometimes obscure themes relating to ancient history and mythology. While other New Orleans parades might have themes like "Foods of the World" or "Broadway Show Tunes", Comus would present themes like "Serpent Deities of the Ancient Near East".

In 1991 the New Orleans city council passed an ordinance that city funds could not be used to pay for police and sanitation for any event held on public streets by any organization which was racially segregated according to its own bylaws. The Comus organization (along with Momus, another 19th century Krewe) decided to no longer parade rather than to either change their bylaws or pay for the municipal expenses of their parade. The Mystick Krewe of Comus still holds an annual ball on Mardi Gras night. While the

Mistick Krewe of Comus was originally a part of and associated with the Pickwick Club, that association ended over one hundred years ago. Most of the members of the Krewe of Comus also claim membership in the old line social clubs including the Boston Club of New Orleans and the Pickwick Club.

As late as the mid 20th century Zulu had no pre-publicised set route, but would wind around predominantly black neighborhoods with stops at various clubs and bars, in addition to a procession in front of city hall where the Mayor of New Orleans and various dignitaries were in reviewing stands waiting for Rex. By the 1920s Zulu had become enough of a tradition that King Zulu and the Mayor exchanged toasts on Mardi Gras morning. After the swing by old city hall, individual Zulu floats would sometimes make their own way around the city as Zulu broke apart into numerous mini-parades. Since the 1960s Zulu has been required to hold to a set route like all the other large parades.

In 1949 Zulu had the first celebrity carnival king when Louis Armstrong reigned as King of the Zulus.

In the 1960s Zulu endured presure from various civil rights organizations to disband because of its use of the negative stereotype of blackface. Zulu continued nonetheless, and is today one of the favorite parades of the Carnival season.

In 1993 the Zulus began their annual public Lundi Gras festivities the day before Mardi Gras, in Woldenburg Park on the banks of the Mississippi River beside the French Quarter. This quickly became a popular event, and since the first one climaxes when the kings of Rex and Zulu ceremonially greet each other.

Donning black face and white eyes is another irresistible pun of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club. Zulu's parade would meander from barroom to the barroom in junky cars and wagons instead of floats.

One of the most misunderstood aspects of the Zulu's has long been it's use of the Vaudevillian Black face. Many modern Afro-Americans feel offended by it's continued use by the Club. Others however know it's true origins and understand it's deeper meaning. Click here Now, discover the true hidden nature of
"Zulus' Mardi Gras Parade Blackface:
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Feature_Zulu_Blackface.htm

If you wanted to catch the start of the parade, you had to find the bar that was extending hospitality to King Zulu. This Krewe didn't establish a parade route until recently. Today, Zulu, withits beautiful modern floats, is one of the more popular parades of the season! They are known for their unique, hand-decorated coconut throws. Only a fortunate few are lucky enough to get those!

Most Mardi Gras Krewes developed from private social clubs that have restrictive membership policies. Since all of these parade organizations are completely funded by its members, we call it the "Greatest Free Show on Earth"!

Krewes: New Orleans Royalty

Mardi Gras has long combined wild street activities open to everyone with events organized by private clubs known as krewes. Today, thousands of people belong to about 60 krewes that plan the parades and balls of New Orleans' Mardi Gras. The oldest krewe, the Krewe of Comus, was founded in 1857 by men who feared the outrageous antics of Mardi Gras would lead to the holiday being outlawed. They hoped that secret societies could keep the celebrations alive.

The millions of colorful beaded necklaces thrown from floats are the most visible symbols and souvenirs of Mardi Gras. In addition, millions of cups and toy coins known as "doubloons" are decorated with krewe logos and thrown to parade-watchers. Some "throws" are especially prized: only the luckiest folks manage to take home the hand-decorated coconuts from the Krewe of Zulu.

Other popular throws include cups (otherwise known as New Orleans equiste drinking glasses), long pearl beads, Krewe Of Mid City's Parade Potato chips and stuffed animals.

Be warned! If you're at your first parade and reach down to pick up a doubloon with your hand, your fingers may never be the same! Many stomp on doubloons in their rush to claim them.

People do outrageous things to catch the most throws. Some dress as priests, hoping the many Catholics on the floats will shower them with goodies. Others dress their children in eye-catching costumes and seat them, holding baskets to catch the loot, on ladders that tower over the crowds. Others give up on the costume ploy altogether, finding that taking clothes off can be the quickest attention-getter.