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Did you know that Mardi Gras was suspended during World War II? More surprising than that, when it returned in 1946, the famous flambeaux didn’t participate.
Flambeaux have been part of Mardi Gras since the 19th century, when they served the practical purpose of lighting the way for parading krewes. After WWII, the group went on strike after krewes refused to increase their pay from $2 to $5 per parade.
One season without them was too much to bear, and the two sides eventually reached an agreement. Flambeaux have paraded ever since, passing down the tradition from generation to generation.
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– Scott Hutcheson, senior advisor to the Mayor for cultural economy