Tomorrow, February 16, is Mardi Gras, the annual celebration in New Orleans marking the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. This year’s public celebration has been canceled, one more victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s probably just as well, given that New Orleans is facing unusual freezing temperatures with the possibility of sleet and light snow over the next 24 hours. Not surprisingly, New Orleanians are creatively celebrating through the decorating of more than a thousand Mardi Gras-themed House Floats for locals and visitors to view. Mardi Gras has a long history of exclusion of Jews from the Krewes, or parading organizations, though this has dramatically changed in recent decades. In 1996, the inclusion of Jews became even more noted, with the formation of a parading group known as the Krewe du Jieux, whose members expressly flaunted Jewish stereotypes for humor, wearing big noses, throwing decorated bagels to the crowds, and featuring characters such as the Big Macher and the Gaza Stripper. In 2006, the Krewe du Jieux split, however, over creative and philosophical differences, leading to the formation of a second Jewish-themed Krewe. What is the name of the newer Krewe?

Mardi Gras decorations on St Charles Avenue, Uptown New Orleans by Infrogmation of New Orleans is licensed under CC BY 2.0

A. The Krewe of Jieux Dats.

B. The Krewe du Nieux Jieuxs.

C. The Krewe du Mishigas.

D. The Krewe of Tuches.

E. The Krewe of One Jew, Two Synagogues.

Click here for the answer.

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