| All one has to do is travel to the Southern part of the | | | | Orleans - Joe Cain day. Joseph Stillwell Cain, Jr is |
| United States at the right time of year to experience | | | | credited with bringing back the Mardi Gras tradition |
| these enduring traditions for oneself. Every year | | | | after the Civil War. In 1866, Mobile and the rest of the |
| beginning with the annual Camellia Ball held | | | | south was forced to endure the occupation of Union |
| Thanksgiving evening, the Queen of Mardi Gras is | | | | soldiers, partly as a snub to them and partly to bring |
| chosen from Mobile's shining debutantes. After the | | | | back some form of gaiety after the grimness of war, |
| queen has been selected, her King is chosen and so | | | | Joe Cain and a few of his cronies decided to dress up |
| are the members of the court. From pages to knights | | | | as Indians and parade through the streets. The |
| and Ladies in Waiting, in the south for one glorious | | | | costume Joe Cain had chosen was that of the |
| season, royalty is alive and well. Traditionally the King | | | | Chickasaw Indian Chief, Slacabamorinico. This was a |
| and Queen of Mardi Gras reign over the magic of | | | | deliberate insult to the occupying Union troops because |
| Mardi Gras. In addition, for Mobile this means a street | | | | Slacamorinico had never been defeated in battle. |
| party that lasts for about two weeks. From the day | | | | Joined by Confederate veterans, the impromptu |
| after Mardi Gras ends one year, planning begins | | | | parade of "borrowed" coal wagons were the |
| immediately for next year's festivities. For the citizens | | | | beginnings of what became the Order of Myths, |
| of Mobile there really are only two seasons, B.C. and | | | | Mobile's longest parading society. |
| D.C., which of course stand for Before Carnival and | | | | Today, Joe Cain is remembered with his own day. The |
| During Carnival. | | | | Sunday before Fat Tuesday is officially known as Joe |
| There are several parading societies in Mobile, Al and | | | | Cain day in Mobile, Al. It is complete with its own |
| while New Orleans may be known for a bigger and | | | | parade and procession of "Cain's Merry Widows", |
| wilder celebration, Mobile is where it all started. Since | | | | mysterious women, heavily veiled and cloaked in black |
| 1703, Mobile has been celebrating Mardi Gras and that | | | | mourning attire. Before the parade, the widows |
| was 15 years before New Orleans was founded. In | | | | proceed to Government Street cemetery where Joe |
| addition, except for that unfortunate War of Northern | | | | Cain is interred, to pay their respects to their dearly |
| Aggression (as it is called by some southerners) and | | | | depart husband. It is rumored that each was married to |
| the two World Wars, nothing comes between the | | | | Mr. Cain and arguments abound as to which wife was |
| people of Mobile and their Mardi Gras celebrations. | | | | his favorite. The parade held in his honor is also unique. |
| Mardi Gras day was actually declared a holiday by the | | | | It is known as the "people's parade" as it is not |
| Alabama Legislature for the city of Mobile and most of | | | | sponsored by any particular organization rather |
| the town shuts down to celebrate the event. | | | | everyday citizens simply sign up and march in the |
| Mobile has another unique tradition not shared by New | | | | parade. |