Mardi Gras is USDemocrazy’s favorite time of year! Right? Well, if you’re from New Orleans, this is probably one of the most memorable times of the year!
It all started with a bull’s head… or the Romans… actually, we really don’t know how the Mardi Gras that we celebrate today happened. But we’re sure glad it did!
Never heard of Mardi Gras? Well, you’re missing out. Check out the top video of Mardi Gras in 1956, and you can get an idea of the general craziness that goes on, including tons of costumes and parades, and everyone having a good time!
In fact, New Orleans has always had a lively musical culture, and has been known for more than just their win in the Superbowl this year… New Orleans is known for the birth of jazz, from such greats like Louis Armstrong and Wynton Marsalis.
So what could possibly change the greatest party in the world?
Only one of the greatest tragedies in U.S. history.
Thanks to New Orleans Real Estate
Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans with a devastating effect. Although residents knew that the hurricane would be serious, many in the Lower 9th Ward, a low-income community, were incapable of getting out in time to reach safety.
The storm looked serious, but no one could guess how serious it would get…
…until the levees broke, leaving a significant portion of New Orleans – specifically, the 9th Ward – completely under water.
In just seconds, the New Orleans that so many knew and loved was destroyed, and the government response was incredibly incompetent, leaving residents in their flooded homes with no food or supplies for days and days.
New Orleans had changed. And, New Orleans is still changed. The 9th Ward, because of the poverty of the residents, has never been completely rebuilt, even four+ years after the disaster.
Does that mean the party is over?
Not at all! The spirit lives on in New Orleans, as people celebrate life and love, family and togetherness, and to many who have returned after the hurricane, just being back home again.
Want to learn more or donate to help families who have lost everything during the hurricane? Click here for more information.
