What a day! Mardi Gras celebrations roll on and the entire My Mardi Gras experience team of bloggers were invited to spend Sunday’s festivities, parades and enjoyment with Tom Martin and his family, and their friends and their families and then their friends and their families on the neutral ground near Jackson Street. A mix of ages from grandparents to kids, a mix of activities from throwing the football in between parades to grilling up BBQ chicken and grasshoppers (ask Tom for the recipe, amazing) and getting to know each other.

As day rolled into night, the crowds thickened in preparation for one of the Super Krewes, Krewe of Bacchus. This quick video was shot right before Bacchus began and the crowds started going wild – and not just because Drew Brees was named King of Bacchus!

Why Bacchus? Here’s a brief history:

Bacchus, The God of Wine and Vegetation

Bacchus, in Greek mythology, was the god of wine and vegetation. He showed mortals how to cultivate grapevines and make wine.

As the son of Zeus, Bacchus is usually characterized in one of two ways:

First, as the god of vegetation specifically of the fruit of the trees. Eventually, he became the popular Greek god of wine and cheer, and wine miracles were reputedly performed at certain of his festivals. According to tradition, Bacchus died each winter and was reborn in the spring. To his followers, this cyclical revival, accompanied by the seasonal renewal of the fruits of the earth, embodied the promise of the resurrection of the dead.

The yearly rites in honor of the resurrection of Bacchus gradually evolved into the structured form of the Greek drama, and important festivals were held in honor of the god, during which great dramatic competitions were conducted.

Since this is my first Mardi Gras too, I’ve been asking a lot of questions about the different parades and what’s behind them. I found out Bacchus celebrated 40 years in 2008 and look at some of their incredible milestones:

1968
» Bacchus Parade Founded

1969
» Bacchus’ First Parade
» First Krewe to Parade Super-floats Through the French Quarter
» First Krewe to Parade Through the Rivergate (Now the Harrah’s Casino)

1972
» Bacchus Introduces Its First Two Signature Floats: King Kong and Bacchasaurus

1973
» Bacchus Parade is Nationally Televised as a Part of Bob Hope’s Reign
» Bacchus Introduces Its Third Signature Float: Queen Kong

1979
» Bacchus Parade Canceled Due To New Orleans Police Department Strike

1982
» Bacchus Introduces Its Fourth Signature Float: Baby Kong

1986
» Bacchus Introduces Its Fifth Signature Float: The Green Bacchagator
» The Bacchus Parade Introduced The Aquarium/Mermaid Float

1990
» Bacchus Moves Its Annual Rendezvous To The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center From The Rivergate

1991
» Bacchus Introduces Its Sixth Signature Float: The Bacchawhoppa (Whale)
» Bacchus Re-Introduces Flambeaux Carriers To The Bacchus Parade

1993
» Bacchus Celebrates Its Silver Anniversary

1997
» Bacchus Modifies The Green Bacchagator Float To Resemble The Rare White “Leucisitic” Alligator, A Beloved Attraction At The New Orleans Aquarium Of The Americas

1999
» Bacchus Launches It First Internet Site On The World Wide Web

2000
» Bacchus Introduces The First “Mass Quantity” Hand-Painted Medallion Bead To Mardi Gras

2001
» Bacchus Introduces The First “Talking” Medallion Bead To Mardi Gras
» Bacchus Parade Is Nationally Televised As A Part Of Larry King’s Reign As Bacchus XXXIII

2005
» The Bacchagator Float Returns To Its Original Green Color

2006
» Bacchus & Endymion Parade Back-To-Back On The Same Night, Creating The Largest Single Night Of Super-Krewe Parades In Mardi Gras History

2008
» Bacchus Celebrates its 40th Anniversary

Thank you Krewe of Bacchus for one of my favorite parades of the entire Mardi Gras!