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Summary

A TikToker Swears Mardi Gras In Alabama Is Better Than New Orleans & Started A Heated Debate

Parade wars have begun.

New Orleans Mardi Gras. Right: A view of Mobile, Alabama.

New Orleans Mardi Gras. Right: A view of Mobile, Alabama.

Florida Associate Editor

Americans celebrated Mardi Gras at famous parades across the country, including that of New Orleans, LA. From beads to floats and king cake, there was no shortage of people letting the good times roll this week.

However, a TikToker in Alabama published a video on February 20 of Mobile's celebrations and mentioned that people should really be talking about "the original Mardi Gras," not the one in NOLA.

Let the parade wars begin.

@abbyhbradley

When people ask what it’s like living in Mobile, I show them this. 🎭✨ #mobilealabama #mobileal #mardigras #mardigras2023 #mobilemardigras #neworleansmardigras #nolamardigras #mardiparty #mardigrasparade #mardigrasball

So many people swarmed the comment section and wrote, "side eye" and to "be for real."

However, some accounts agree with the creator.

"Why are people side-eyeing this it’s true," a user commented, and someone else replied, "that's what I'm saying."

One TikToker stated that Mobile was the first to have the parades, but New Orleans still does it better.

According to the History Channel, the origin state that hosted the inaugural Mardi Gras celebrations depends on who you're asking. However, experts say because Mobile was founded earlier than New Orleans, due to technicalities, it was observed in AL first.

Many creators on the app seem to be on Louisiana's side, but commenters are giving Alabama credit for being one of the first to recognize the holiday.

@buffblondekim

Hail Endymion 🎭 #mardigras2023 #mardigras #neworleans #parades #canalstreet #bourbonst #frenchquarter #followyournola

According to various videos on TikTo, the two parades seem quite similar. There are locals throwing beaded necklaces, people in the streets, food, floats and costumes galore.

Louisiana is the only state that considers the day a legal holiday in every county, but Alabama does consider it a legal holiday in Baldwin and Mobile counties.

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    • Associate Editor

      Jenna Kelley (she/her) was the Associate Editor for Florida at Narcity Media, where she oversaw all of the editorial content across the Sunshine State. She started her career in broadcast media as a television news reporter for three years. In 2020, Jenna won a Georgia Association of Broadcasters (GABBY) award for Best Online Produced Story. She's covered live concerts, reported at the Masters Tournament, and interviewed state senators during election season. Prior to working at Narcity Media, she made her way home to Florida and launched a copywriting business. Jenna received her B.A. in English with a minor in Communications at Florida State University. She has over five years of experience from print and digital media to radio and television.

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