What is a Krewe!

Article printed in Mardi Gras Digest on June 12th, 2005. Written and researched by Willie Clark, Editor-n-Chief, Mardi Gras Digest Magazine.

  June 12th, 2005     New Orleans, Louisiana ...... I have been in New Orleans now for the past (11) eleven years and I know how hard it is to keep up with Mardi Gras and its terms. 

That's why for these many years I have made it my mission, to do serious research on as much about the festival of Mardi Gras, on as much of a full time basis, as I possibly can. The research has helped me to discover much more than previously revealed about the holiday and  it's long held traditions, along with the real truth behind their origins and report the results back to the web site and the magazine with some standard of accuracy. 

I'm not the only one who was confused about a great deal when I got here. The only difference between then and now is the fact that, at that time, I didn't really have anyone to ask, now everyone asks me. Sure, I'm flattered and all, but there are those out there, that still  haven't been reached at all and continue to substitute their own meanings for the correct ones. 

One such term, that seems to forever grow tentacles of different meanings, is the term, "Krewe".  People seemed determined to twist the word's true meaning into whatever is convenient for them. 

It just occurs to me that if, someone wants to claim to be following the traditions from a 400 plus, year old celebration, they would like to know what the real definitions of the words are.  

Rather than give a simple definition, it's time someone gave the history of the word, because just simply giving the definition, seems to make others more determined to give theirs. By giving the history of the word, and backing it up with researched facts, I hope to make it impossible to counter with some trifling, made up babblings, with no basis in history, or fact.

So, let's get started. First let's remember the influent parties in the locale at the time. Since the late 1600's, in one way or another, the French and Spanish laid claim to this region at one time or another, and it was their languages which played a major role in the settlement of the Louisiana territory as well as the Florida republic. 

As these forces acted upon our landscape and brought about the future shape of our country, they also acted upon our language as well.   

We as users of any language, do not get to redefine the words of that language, simply because we can not find the true definition or are too damn lazy to go do the research necessary to understand the meaning of any word.

The originator of any new word with no previous usage, gets the honor of defining the true meaning of the word or phrase which he inaugurates. 

In the case of the word, "KREWE" it is a historic fact, that the Comus organization, did in fact originate the word and therefore it is their defintion which should be followed and adhered to. 

    Originally coined in the year 1857, the Carnival organization, "Comus", became the first in the nation to use the word, "Krewe". Comus in their journals defined what they wanted their organization to look, act and feel like and they left very little doubt as to how things were to be arranged and run.

They wanted to 1) parade about the streets of New Orleans, using floats, flambeau, horses, etc, to illustrate a theme, and  to let the public see and enjoy them.

They also wanted to 2) engage in a themed, Ball Masque after the parade so the club members could enjoy themselves after the parade, in a private manner.

The Comus members by birth right in a lot of cases, 3) wanted to make a difference in their community, by their charitable works and aid to the community.

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