Mardi Gras revelers danced against a soggy background Tuesday, changing a few routines but none of the fun. If anyone appeared as Lady Godiva galloping through the French quarter, she did so well hidden by a raincoat. Masqueraders strolled through the streets as clowns with umbrellas, Indians with rain hats, knights with raincoats and tramps with ponchos. Light rain, however, did not keep thousands from jamming the parade route to catch favors from the 20 floats of Rex, lord of misrule and king of carnival, Since Washington's birthday and Mardi Gras fell on the same day the theme of Rex was the life of Washington. At night, another krewe, Comus, paraded its 17 floats describing Latin America and then joined Rex after a ball to close the carnival season. Since the 12th night after Christmas, private New Orleans social organizations called krewes have presented balls and parades. Midnight Tuesday night ended festivities and ushered in the lenten season...

related Stanley Meisler articles by topic: