4th Annual Mardi Gras Gala to Benefit Shoreline Arts Alliance

Celebrate the centuries old tradition of Mardi Gras with the Shoreline Arts Alliance. The mission of the Shoreline Arts Alliance is to Educate, Encourage, Enrich and Engage its citizenry through arts, humanities, culture and heritage. The annual gala is February 6 at 6pm at the Guilford Yacht Club. For information or to purchase tickets click here.

The history of Mardi Gras dates back to Pagan spring and fertility rituals long before Christianity.  Once Rome adopted Christianity, society transferred these rituals into a season of excess prior to Lent, the 40 days of fasting and penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.  This tradition of Mardi Gras spread with Christianity across Western Europe.  Where did colors of purple, green, and gold or the ornate masks originate?

Mardi Gras is synonymous with New Orleans, so it makes sense that the colors we associate with the celebration were established in New Orleans in 1872.  The first New Orleans’ king of Mardi Gras, so named Rex, was the Grand Duke Alexis, Alexandrovich Romanoff of Russia.  The colors of his house were purple, representing justice, green representing faith and gold representing power.

The tradition of masks, however, has a much longer history.  In the 12th century, a Venetian tradition of “Carnevale” started with the victory against the religious ruling power of Northern Italy, Ulrich II of Aquileia.  It is said that the Venetians danced in the streets and in San Marco Square.   This festival became the official holiday to celebrate the change in rule during the Renaissance and lasted until 1797.  The masks were worn as a way to hide one’s true identity and therefore, were a symbol of freedom to be worn not only during festivals, but in day to day Venetian life.

When Carnevale was outlawed by the King of Austria, the ruling power of Northern Italy in 1797, the wearing of masks was also outlawed completely.  During the 19th and 20th centuries, the masquerades were re-introduced at private feasts to signify artistic creations.  Today, approximately 3 million tourists a year flock to Venice for Carnevale.  One of the most important events is the contest for la maschera piu bella (the most beautiful mask) which is judged by a panel of international costume and fashion designers.

Each year, The Shoreline Arts Alliance’s largest fundraiser, the Mardi Gras Gala, pays tribute to the history of this tradition.  The Gala will be celebrating its 4th year and has incorporated New Orleans Jazz music, beads, mask wearing, a parade with its own King Rex, Queen, Captain and Royal Court.  The 2016 Gala will feature a culinary experience with caterer  Gourmet Galley.  The Alliance has added a new twist by incorporating its own beautiful mask contest.  On January 6th, Coastal Connecticut Magazine hosted  Carnavale, the kickoff to the Mardi Gras season and Gala.  Mask were handed out that night to be decorated and entered into a contest.  The Alliance will have judges and a winner will be selected the night of the Gala.

Funds raised during Carnavale and the Gala will be put towards finding the Shoreline Arts Alliance a permanent home.  The organization works out of a tiny space in Guilford and is currently in negotiations with the Town of Madison to establish a Cultural Arts Center at The Academy School.  The Mardi Gras Gala is just one example of how the Shoreline Arts Alliance connects 24 towns with history, culture and art.