Tuesday, 13 February 2024

Happy Mardi Gras!


Mardi Gras as a Carnival is not big in Canada -- at least, not on its traditional date before Lent. It's too damn cold here in winter for those fabulous half-nekkid costumes, feathers, beads, parades and public partying. So our Mardi Gras-like Caribbean festivals are all held in the summer instead, such as Caribana in Toronto and Cariwest in Edmonton.

On Fat Tuesday itself, there's little hoopla here apart from maybe eating pancakes. No King Cakes. No beads. No nuthin'.


But that doesn't mean we can't all enjoy a rousing rendition of the official song of Mardi Gras -- Iko Iko! Its infectious beat and joyful lyrics will stay with you all day long! In other words, sorry for the earworm you're about to get, everyone --


Iko Iko un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-ne
Jock-a-mo fee-na-ne

Iko Iko is a traditional New Orleans song about a confrontational mock battle between rival Mardi Gras "krewes" participating in the Carnival parade. The refrain is said to be a phonetic rendition of an indigenous Native American victory chant but its actual meaning or significance is unknown.

39 comments:

  1. I’m happy with this ear worm. And now I’m going to listen to other versions... like John Crawford’s Jock-A-Mo and the version by Dr. John.

    I had a zaftig friend in (She was Ms. San Diego Leather one year) who brought back a boxful of beads for me from Mardi Gras, New Orleans. She stood below a balcony and asked, “Can I have some for my friend Mitch in San Diego?” They (mostly women) all said, “Show ’em.” She did and was nearly knocked out by the ton of beads dumped on her.

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  2. Love that song. I’ll hear it all day…for sure!

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  3. We used to do Mardi Gras, (King Cake and jambalaya, etc) for years after visiting New Orleans years ago. Hubs and I stayed at a convent (they had a nice guest house) where my sister was stationed for a year and we went to the parade with a bunch of the nuns! It was a blast. Only in New Orleans. This year I'll be lucky if I make dinner.

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  4. "half-nekkid costumes, feathers, beads, parades and public partying." Sounds like just another Friday night at the Casa du Borghese.

    Love the dog meme. I better not catch Buster doing such things.

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  5. Bit chilly for feathers, yes, but great pancake weather. With maple syrup of course.

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  6. Oh yes!
    I've celebrated Fat Tuesday in New Orleans only once. You know what I have in my bucket list? Rio. Yep. And all those Brazilians shaking it to a Samba.

    XOXO

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  7. Mardi Gars is certainly not a big thing in California. I've never known of any celebration is my town or any nearby.

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  8. Last year, I was in New Orleans for a conference, and went to one of the first parades. It was wild.

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  9. I didn't know that was a Mardi Gras song. And I forgot that today is Fat Tuesday! Thanks for the reminders, Debra!

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  10. I love this song but never knew it's name, so thank you. It makes me want to dance:)

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  11. Good post, I don't know much about Mardi Gras so I am learning a few things here. Have a great day today.

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  12. Love that song. Had no idea of the words or its origin. Fantastic.

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  13. The St. Louis area has a multi-week Mardi Gras celebration. Some say that after New Orleans it's one of the largest in the country.

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  14. I've never been but Mardi Gras in New Orleans looks wild. Wild as in dangerous! I do love a parade though and have collected many beads from Pride parades (didn't have to show a thing!)
    Hey! My friend has a dog named Iko!

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  15. When I wasn't overseas with my family(Army Brat here), my grandmother would drag me to Mardi Gras to keep her company and watch over her when she got drunk. It was fun. I had a great time everytime I went. I couldn't go into the bars because I was only in my teens back then but the parades were a blast.

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  16. Haven't heard that song in a long time. Brightened up my day.

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  17. Thanks for the earworm..I was in New Orleans many years ago for Mardi Gras.. It was a good time but I have to say that there was a ton of trash and garbage in all the streets afterwards and bad smells. I was a lot younger.. I don't think I would do it again though... Here Fasnachts have turned into donuts. Not the same!
    Enjoy your day

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  18. I don't blame you for not celebrating Mardi Gras at this time of year in Canada... removing frozen pasties is a bitch!

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  19. You should come down to St. Louis next year. You can stay with Kathy.

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  20. And a Happy Mardi Gras to you up there in Canada. Laissez les bons temps rouler.

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  21. No nothing on Fat Tuesday? Outrageous!
    I'll have two of everything for you and HRH.

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  22. The beads look great on the dog!

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  23. I recall the Dixie Cups' "Chapel of Love" and "I'm Gonna Get You Yet". I don't seem to remember this one.
    --Jim

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  24. Never been to a Mardi Gras festival.

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  25. I’ve loved that song since Cyndi Lauper sang it.

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  26. The Methodist Church in Peninsula used to celebrate every Mardi Gras. They are the source of my collection of beads.

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  27. I actually LOVE this ear worm! Crazy that the origin is unknown.

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  28. Thanks. I enjoyed that. I almost forgot that song. Where I live, among the dreadful Mormons, Carnival is not a thing. They just don't have it. It is not part of the tradition. Sometimes they can be very austere and strict about their attitudes.
    I think they just don't do it. Which still doesn't explain to me, why they vote republican.
    But enough of politics! They don't really like Saint Patrick or Baba Marta either.

    I don't know what they think about Easter. I don't know what I think about Easter either. But I know it has eggs and lambs and new clothes.

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  29. As I write this it's almost over, but Happy Fat Tuesday anyway. Enjoyed the music.

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  30. I love the colours and the costumes in that video and I love Mardi Gras beads and parades, which I have only ever seen on TV.

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  31. sounds like an African festival or not i have to look for it dear Debra

    hope your weather gets friendly to allow all celebrate it nicely :)
    i LOVED the song what a delight wow thank you so much for sharing
    sorry power issue that making me late to blogs
    hugs and blessings

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  32. Never mind Mardi Gras, check out the Venice Carnival. The costumes are amazing and the carnival dates back to the 12th century. https://www.venice-carnival-italy.com/

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  33. Happy Valentine's Day, Debra! 🌹❤️

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  34. We had to cancel out Carnivale here in Manitou because we got 5 inches of snow and it was pretty miserable last weekend.

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  35. yep that's my earworm for the day, I like it though :-) I love the costumes in the video.

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  36. It's not much of a holiday here but we did celebrate it in elementary school

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  37. We had a proper Carnaval when I was growing up in Chicoutimi. I actually blogged about it recently: https://vraiefiction.blogspot.com/2024/02/carnaval-souvenir-de-chicoutimi.html

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  38. The weather in Canada is too nipply this time of year for traditional Mardi Gras. More Shrove tuesday kind of thing.

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