Parades in a Pandemic: How New Orleans Has Adjusted Its Holiday Celebrations
To no surprise, COVID-19 has put a halt to parades and festivals around Louisiana. The devastation of many lost annual traditional celebrations has pushed local citizens to get creative to keep the festivities alive. Over the course of Mardi Gras, many parade Krewes were able to comply with restrictions caused by the pandemic and decorate the outside of their homes in extravagant ways to commence Carnival season.
As we approach St. Patrick’s Day and Easter, many parades remain canceled as they were in 2020. However, participants are still planning on celebrating regardless.
New Orleans resident Tucker Mendoza has formed a Facebook group where fellow parade-goers and participants are encouraged to accessorize their homes with pastel colored Easter decorations including dyed eggs, bunnies, and other springtime embellishments. To adhere to COVID-19 safety precautions, Mendoza is hoping that those involved in this modified Easter celebration will allow fellow New Orleanians to tour the outside of their homes socially distanced.
The decorated homes will act as “floats” for those looking to observe Easter in a fun way by staying as close to the previous years of a traditional parade as possible. While this is not the ideal way of celebrating the holiday, residents can look forward to contributing their own creations for April 4th to bring back some of the Easter spirit to their neighbors.
Along with the pandemic makeshift parade, virtual egg hunts and other competitions will be available for those who want to contribute to a modern- day Easter celebration — one that will look much different than the non-existent commencements from 2020.
Although COVID-19 has stopped many traditions, creative accommodations have made it possible to still enjoy them. Thanks to the efforts of residents like Mendoza, New Orleans will be able to enjoy a colorful, extravagant Easter Sunday that will keep citizens safe, and the spirit of the holiday alive.
Source: https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/festivals/article_5eb60096-7b82-11eb-a1ac-b7f0c2b3f5fe.html
