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What would Mardi Gras be without Louisiana? We’ve got practice books and current and superseded statutes for the Pelican State!

But, as with a lot of Southern tradition, there is a great deal of lore – and some would say – contention!

Par Exemple! Alabama has longed claimed to be the birthplace with the 1703 impromptu celebrations initiated by French soldiers. New Orleans claims their earliest Mardi Gras took place in 1699, when French explorers Bienville and Iberville put down stakes and since that day–wink, wink!– just happened to be Mardi Gras they named the spot “La Pointe du Mardy Gras.”

Alabama declares Mardi Gras a legal holiday in 1911. (source LLMC– where members can remotely access Federal, State, & International documents!)

While we don’t hold out hope of ending the argument, it is interesting that the definitive Oxford English Dictionary mentions New Orleans in its listing….

The OED! Available to NYLI members…great to quote in a legal document (or for settling a bar bet!…..)

But we certainly don’t want to argue — no matter what state you hail from, all of us at The New York Law Institute hope that your “krewe” (organization that stages Mardi Gras festivities) throws a few beads and doubloons (traditional trinkets thrown to parade goers) this Mardi Gras and enjoys a good “fais do-do”(Cajun Dance Party!)….


NYLI luminaries John Anthon, F.B. Cutting, and James T. Brady just know that you always get a “lagniappe”(Cajun for something extra!)” as members of NYLI. Click here to see about a free trial membership !