Joan Of Arc Parade

Joan Of Arc Parade

Tonight is a very special night. Today is the first day of carnival season. But it is also the birthday of Saint Joan of Arc. This means that tonight is the Joan of Arc Parade, the starting event of New Orleans Mardi Gras. The parade celebrates Joan's life and legacy, and her special importance to the city of New Orleans. Joan of Arc liberated Orleans in France, so she is dearly beloved in New Orleans as well. There is also a beautiful gold statue of Joan in New Orleans, which has become an important symbol of the city and ties New Orleans even closer to her. The parade is led by the Krewe of Joan of Arc, an organization dedicated to celebrating French heritage in New Orleans. The star of the parade is a young woman playing Saint Joan, dressed in armor and riding a horse. Other people in the parade are dressed as angels and religious figures, in medieval costumes, and as warriors. Important parts of the parade are "Joan" receiving her sword at Saint Louis Cathedral, singing "Happy Birthday" to Joan at her statue, and a champagne toast with king cake. There is something rather ironic about having the pious, chaste, and righteous Saint Joan as the herald of carnival season, but it is a beautiful tribute nonetheless. And in a strange way, it is appropriate. Carnival is the season of fantasy and magic, where anyone can be anything; so perhaps a peasant girl, dressed in men's armor and led by strange religious visions, who rose to lead an army, save a nation, and became a saint embodies that spirit of the impossible being attainable better than anyone else.

I have mixed images of the Joan of Arc Parade with artworks depicting her; as well as art of the Living Saints from Warhammer Forty Thousand who are inspired by the image and legend of Joan of Arc, just like the version of her represented in the parade.