The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple (symbolic of justice), green (symbolic of faith) and gold (symbolic of power).

Pancakes

Usually eaten on "Fat Tuesday" the day before Ash Wednesday, we'll be having them on Saturday morning.

Umbrella Dance /Second-Line

Decorate an Umbrella, contest for Most Unusual, Prettiest, and Best Themed Umbrella.  Your umbrella will be judged during the Parade on Saturday forming at the Elks Lodge at 4:30 p.m. and parade the streets of Sistersville. 

Second-line: a dancing procession with people waving white handkerchiefs or napkins, usually led by a brass band and/or a person dancing with a colorful umbrella

History of the Second Line Umbrella
New Orleans is a city rich in its history, its culture, and its traditions. It is known worldwide for its food, its music, and its celebrations. Among those celebrations most unique to New Orleans is the Jazz Funeral.

The Jazz Funeral in New Orleans dates back to the early 1800's. It emerged as a collaborative effort among slaves and free people of color. For these events, people would pool their resources in order to provide a family or community member with a proper burial.

The funeral procession was always characterized by the family of the deceased who where the "first line" of mourners, the jazz band, and the "Second Line" --- the non-family members who would come to pay their respect and help celebrate the life of the deceased.

Traditionally, the "Second Line" mourners were characterized by their accessories --- fans, handkerchiefs, and umbrellas. All of these items were necessary for the long procession in the hot, southern sun.

One the way to the gravesite, the mourners would quietly walk to the slow, somber songs (dirges) played by the band. But once the deceased had been buried, a trumpets call would rally the crowd to celebrate the life of the deceased and help release his or her soul. It is during this jubilant celebration that the fans, handkerchiefs, and umbrellas became "props" used by the Second Liners as they stepped and danced to the celebratory music.

Over the course of time, the Second Line Umbrella has emerged as a dominant symbol of celebration in New Orleans. Today, the Second Line Umbrella is used to celebrate just about anything --- Mardi Gras, weddings, showers, graduations, milestone birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, sporting events, etc.

With the evolution of their use has come the evolution of their style. What was once just a regular necessity against the sun has become a highly decorated work of art. Second Line Umbrellas now reflect attitude and personal style as they twirl and spin as if to say "laissez les bons temps rouler"!

King Cake

The King Cake will be a part of our Banquet celebration and prizes will be given for those who find the baby in the cake. 

The King Cake is a brioche-style cake traditionally made throughout the State of Louisiana during the weeks prior to Mardi Gras. Usually oval in shape, the King Cake is a bakery delicacy made from a rich Danish dough (which is a sweetened yeast bread...a cross between a coffee cake and a French pastry) and covered with a poured sugar topping decorated in the traditional Mardi Gras-colored sugars of purple (symbolizing Justice), green (symbolizing Faith) and gold (symbolizing Power). This colorful topping is representative of a jeweled crown in honor of the Three Wise Men who visited the Christ Child on Epiphany (a word derived from the Greek meaning "to show"). Epiphany, also known as Twelfth Night (i.e., January 6) is when the Carnival Season officially begins.

The King Cake tradition is believed to have begun with French settlers around 1870, who were themselves continuing a custom which dated back to Twelfth Century France, when a similar cake was used to celebrate the coming of the Magi twelve days after Christmas bearing gifts for the Christ Child. This celebration was also once known as King's Day. As a symbol of this Holy Day, a tiny plastic baby (symbolic of the baby Jesus) is placed inside each King Cake but in times gone past, the hidden items were usually coins, beans, pecans or peas.