Michael Christopher Mahan

A Brief History of Mardi Gras

2/16/2014

This year's Mardi Gras falls on March 4th. Many are familiar with the parades and exquisite balls that mark this special day. But how did it all begin here in the States? Here is a brief history of this interesting celebration:

French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville landed at a spot 60 miles directly south of present day New Orleans on March 2, 1699, the eve of that year’s Mardi Gras. In honor of the festive holiday, Bienville christened the plot of land “Pointe du Mardi Gras.” Three years later, Bienville established another locale calling it “Fort Louis de La Louisiane” which is the current site of Mobile, Alabama. By the time Mardi Gras rolled around in 1703, the tiny settlement had changed its name to “Fort Louis de la Mobile” and it was here the very first Mardi Gras was celebrated in the America’s.

It wasn’t until 1718 that Bienville established New Orleans and it was another 12 years or more before Mardi Gras was celebrated openly in that city. At the beginning, the celebration there did not involve the elaborate parades we enjoy today. Instead, it probably mimicked the procession originated by the “Boeuff Gras Society” (Boeuf Gras means “fatted calf” or "fatted ox") in Fort Louis de la Mobile. There, a large paper mâchè bull’s head on wheels was pushed by 16 men through the streets, signaling the coming season of Lent and its associated fast from meat. Mardi Gras literally means “Fat Tuesday” and gets its name from the custom of feasting on the day before Ash Wednesday when the fasting season of Lent begins.

Marquis de Vaudreuil, Louisiana’s governor in the early 1740’s is credited with establishing elegant society balls to celebrate Mardi Gras. Citizens and guests of New Orleans today continue to enjoy Mardi Gras balls which are modeled after Vaudreuil’s extravaganzas of his era.

It isn’t until 1781 that we find any reference to Mardi Gras “Carnival." In that year, the Perseverance Benevolent & Mutual Aid Association was among the first club and/or carnival organization formed in New Orleans. It would be yet another 49 years before street processions using “flambeaux,” or gaslight torches, would light up the way for revelers in carriages or on horseback became common. The first daytime parade occurred in 1872 which was also the first year a “King of Carnival,” Rex was selected by a group of business men to preside over the parade. (This was also the first year present Mardi Gras colors were used – but you’ll have to read about that in my next blog.) In 1875, Louisiana Governor Henry Warmoth signed the “Mardi Gras Act” which made Mardi Gras an official holiday in Louisiana, which it remains to this day.

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The Real Story Behind the St Valentine's Day Massacre

2/11/2014

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The year was 1929. The Wall Street Crash didn’t occur until October of that year so during the early months, Chicago was still basking in the glow of what we know today as the “roaring twenties.” Prohibition had been in effect for almost 9 years and organized crime was enjoying lucrative profits from the sale of alcohol, betting establishments and other shady businesses. The driving force behind the profits enjoyed by gangsters of the day was little more than greed. Everyone wanted a little larger slice of the pie. But to gain a larger portion of the profits required someone else to lose theirs. Gang rivalries were thriving but most paled in comparison to the animosity that existed between the South Side Italian gang led by Al Capone and the North Side Irish gang run by Bugs Moran. That animosity was clearly on display February 14, 1929 – the day of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.

Historians have provided many insights into what transpired that day, but in this article I will peel back the curtain to reveal the measures that led to this infamous event. (The names have been changed to protect the innocent – er, um, actually, they’ve been changed because nothing you are about to read is factual).

Early that morning, Frank “The Tank” O’Brian sat at the breakfast table reading the morning paper. His pretty wife, Sharon, was busy preparing his eggs and toast.

“Do you know what today is?” asked Sharon in a coy voice.

“Yeah! It’s Thursday,” answered The Tank.

“Oh, silly. I mean do you know what holiday it is today?”

The Tank dropped the newspaper on the table and gave his wife a perturbed look. “Today ain’t no holiday, me sweet. It’s just another day.”

Sharon looked wounded. “You mean, you don’t care that today is Valentine’s Day. Didn’t you get me a card? Some candy? Anything?”

“Now why would I be going and doing something foolish like that for? You don’t need a card, and you certainly don’t need any chocolate – you know that stuff goes right to your hips!”

I wish you could have seen The Tanks face as little Sharon tossed two pieces of burnt toast on the table in front of him and tilted his plate full of eggs so they landed on the floor.

Meanwhile, just down the street, Willy “The Scourge” O’Malley was placing his breakfast order at the diner. His girlfriend, Molly, was waiting on him. “Give me a plate of eggs with some of them shredded potatoes you know I love.”

When Molly returned with his food, she stood beside his table, holding the plate in one hand and a large cup of coffee in the other. Willy looked up with a questioning look on his face. “Well, woman, what are you waiting for? Put me food down on the table so I can get to eating.”

“Don’t you have something for me? After all, it is Valentine’s Day, you know,” said Molly, batting her eyes.

“Valentine’s Day, eh? Sure, I got something for you.” With that, Willy gave Molly a firm slap on her backside. “There, me darlin’. Now, be a good girl and give me my food.”

The other diners watched in stunned silence as Molly proceeded to dump the plate of eggs and potatoes on Willy’s head, followed by the coffee she poured in his lap.

The same type of thing happened at the home of Brian Begley, Chris Londergan, Mickey MacAllister and two of their other comrades. No gift for the little lady resulting in foods of various kinds landing on the men everywhere except where they had been expecting it.

Later that morning, the women gathered at the local grocery and concocted a plan to teach their men a lesson for their lack of sensitivity.

Not long after, the seven men met at a local garage to discuss the strange way their women had behaved earlier in the day. While they were comparing notes, a car pulled up outside. Two men dressed as policemen exited the car followed by two others dressed in suits. The rest – as they say – is history.

Gentlemen, every year the potential for a reoccurrence of the St. Valentine’s Massacre exists. But you can protect yourself from such a tragedy. Valentine’s Day cards, candy or other gifts may not mean much to you but do not underestimate their value to the women you love. Don’t miss this opportunity to express your adoration and affection to your special someone. Who knows, it could save you from wearing your food this Friday – or worse!

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A Little History Surrounding Valentine's Day

2/5/2014

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It’s almost Valentine’s Day and lovers young and old are racing to find the perfect gift to express their affections. Amidst the frenzy, I couldn’t help but wonder how it came to be we set aside this day to express our deepest heartfelt feelings to those close to us. While the origins of this “day of lovers” is shrouded in mystery, there are a few stories that hang around and have enough credence to take a moment or two for consideration.

The ancient Romans held the feast of Lupercalia around February 13 to 15. Lupercalia was a festival with a dual purpose. The Romans celebrated Faunus, their god of fertility, and paid tribute to Romulus and Remus, whom they recognized as the founders of Rome. The festival included the sacrifice of a goat and a dog at the cave where Romulus and Remus were supposedly raised by a she wolf. The pelts of the slain animals were then torn into strips and the men would take these strips and use them to slap the surrounding fields of crops and the women who willingly (some not so willingly, I’m certain) ran through the streets. The gesture was believed to make both the fields and the women more fertile in the coming year.

The festival also included a lottery where the names of single women were placed in a large urn. The single men would select a name from the urn and be paired with that maiden for the remainder of the festival (some sources say for the coming year). Some of the pairings resulted in marriage.

The religious origins of the holiday sprout from the story of a Catholic Priest by the name of Valentine. The Roman Emperor Claudius II observed married men were less likely to willingly leave their wives and join the army to go off to war. His solution was to outlaw marriage. But laws can never trump human emotion and young men continued to fall in love. Valentine realizing the injustice of Claudius’ decree, continued to perform marriages for the young lovers. He was arrested and sentence to death.

While in prison, he was attended to by the jailors daughter, with whom he reportedly fell in love. He would write her love letters and on the day of his death, he signed his last letter to her, “From Your Valentine.” Valentine was recognized by the church as a martyr and was eventually given the status of a saint.

In the very early 6th century, Pope Gelasius outlawed Lupercalia. Knowing the celebration was deeply ingrained in the roman population, he replaced it with a celebration of St. Valentine, the priest martyred for the cause of love. Still, it wasn’t until the Middle Ages when writers such as Shakespeare and Chaucer began to write about Valentine’s Day, equating it with love, that the holiday became romanticized. Finally, in 1913, Hallmark Cards began offering a mass produced line of greeting cards celebrating Valentine’s Day. The holiday has grown in popularity ever since with annual sales somewhere in the neighborhood of $19 billion.

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International Survivors of Suicide Day

11/22/2013

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Today's blog is a very personal one - so please bear with me.

November 23, 2013 is International Survivors of Suicide Day. Designed for those who have lost loved ones to suicide, this day provides opportunities to connect with others who share the experience. You can read more about it at http://www.afsp.org/survivorday. I am a survivor of suicide - however, not in the context of losing a loved one in this way. I am a survivor in the sense that I survived a failed attempt at my own suicide.

In November of 1999, I experienced great personal loss through a divorce which separated me from my children and resulted in the end of a career. The pain I experienced cannot be adequately described in words. Already dealing with severe depression, the events of that month dealt a crushing blow. I can honestly say the combination of the depression and the excruciating sense of loss I experienced resulted in some very faulty thinking and reasoning on my part.

I came to believe it was in the best interest of my estranged family to die - I thought it would ease their feelings and the insurance money would be of some help. I also came to believe that it was only through death I had any hope of escaping the pain I felt.

I overdosed on sleeping pills and alcohol. Through a series of miscalculations on my part, I did wake up the next day. I had more pills which I was attempting to take when police and paramedics arrived at my hotel room.

After being released from the hospital, I spent ten days at a mental health facility where through medication and therapy they treated my depression. Even though the pain of loss still clung to me, the fog which had corrupted my thinking had been lifted enough to allow me to see my situation in a different light. Though very dim, there was a glimmer of hope which enabled me to face each day - one at a time.

I did discover, for instance, that I was not alone. I had many friends who in one way or another sought to help me through this difficult time of my life. One couple, to whom I can never adequately express my appreciation, is Don and Tacille Rumfelt who graciously opened their home and allowed me to live with them for several weeks - including making me feel as much a part of their family as possible during the Christmas holidays. Tim Stiffler was also another friend who helped me find my way back from despair.

I began a new - though short lived - career in January. I went to school to obtain a CDL license then drove a semi-truck for the next 10 months. During my time on the road, I met the most wonderful woman I have ever known over the internet. We began corresponding via email in May, met face to face for the first time the last week-end in July and married in November. Lisa is not only my business partner and wife - she is indeed my very best friend.

When I reflect over the past several years, I realize how much I would have missed out on had my suicide attempt been successful. In November of 1999 I truly believed I would never be happy again. Now, in November of 2013, I realize many of my greatest moments of happiness have occurred during the last 13 years. I have had the opportunity to reconcile with my two sons and to gain a third through marriage. I was there to see my oldest son step off the plane after returning from his first deployment to Iraq during the war. I have three absolutely adorable grandchildren - including one just born 8 days ago and two beautiful daughters in law. Though not a daughter, I do have a remarkable young woman, Andrea, who Lisa and I often refer to as our adopted daughter, and her boyfriend Justin who are a very special part of our lives. And, of course, I have a loving wife who brings a smile to my face each and every day.

When I think of all the things I would have missed if my life had ended in that hotel room 14 years ago, I can only pause and express my gratitude to God that I failed. I am a suicide survivor and I know from firsthand experience that suicide was not the right decision.

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The Sometimes Deadly "Foot in Mouth" Disease

9/11/2013

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  I am convinced every boy ought to be taught an important truth sometime during his years in Jr. High school. It is a lesson that will save him many hours of heartache and distress later in his life. The lesson?

There is no right answer if your girlfriend/wife ever asks, “Do I look fat in these pants?”

            Rather than attempt to answer in any way, those of the male gender ought to be taught to do nothing more than turn tail and run. No matter what they say, invariably it will be subject to interpretation by the woman who will interpret it in the most unflattering way, thereby immersing the man in the proverbial pot of hot water.

            To often, men speak first – think later. My dad used to warn me, “Put your brain in gear before you run off at the mouth.” Unfortunately, I have not always followed his advice.

            Take for instance the night my wife, Lisa, was flipping through the TV channels while I browsed through the evening newspaper. She landed on one of those talk shows hosted by five women. I glanced over the top of the newspaper and looked at those five ladies then asked, “Did they have auditions for this show and pick the five ugliest women they could find to host it?”

            Lisa, ever the protector of her gender, responded, “Those women aren’t any uglier than I am.”

            Now, here’s where the trouble started. I had already gone back to reading the newspaper so my brain was only partially engaged in the conversation with my wife. I heard her comment. Then I heard my own voice, though I don’t remember actually speaking the words. In fact, as soon as I heard my words, I prayed to God they only existed in my mind. Unfortunately, it was too late to pray.

            “Oh honey,” I heard myself say. “Those women are a whole lot uglier than you!”

            If I recall correctly, though I must admit I was too busy watching my life flash before my eyes to be conscious of much else, I physically attempted to catch my words with my hands in mid air before they reached Lisa’s ears. My brain, now at full attention, asked me, “You surely didn’t say that, did you?” But it was too late. I had contracted the sometimes deadly “foot in mouth” disease.

            That happened a couple of years ago and Lisa has since forgiven me. But it came up again the other night and Lisa reflected on the many “foot in mouth” moments that most couples experience. She challenged me to write an article on this phenomenon. That is what this letter is all about.

            I’m wondering if you have ever had one of those experiences, and if you have, would you be willing to write it out and send it to me along with your permission to use it. I’m hoping to get enough responses to compile them in an article or booklet. If I use your anecdote, I’ll send you a free copy of the booklet. I’d also love it if you would pass this note on to your friends/relatives on your mailing list and ask them to send me their stories. Who knows, if I get enough responses, perhaps I’ll even be able to create a book. A book that will become required reading for every Jr. High boy.

Thanks in advance for your help.

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Michael's Writers Blog

A Brief History of Mardi Gras

The Real Story Behind the St Valentine's Day Massacre

A Little History Surrounding Valentine's Day

International Survivors of Suicide Day

The Sometimes Deadly "Foot in Mouth" Disease

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