Order of Myths
Encyclopedia
The Order of Myths, founded in 1867,
is the oldest remaining mystic society
to celebrate Mardi Gras in Mobile
, Alabama
. The Order of Myths chose, as its symbolic emblem, Folly
chasing Death around a broken column of life, imagery that was considered, following the American Civil War
, as a symbol of the "Lost Cause". During parades, a person dressed in a jester's suit, as Folly, chases a person dressed in a skeleton suit as death, around a Greek column on the emblem
float. At the conclusion of the traditional OOM parade, Death is defeated, and Folly wins the day.
The first parading mystic society, the Cowbellion de Rakin Society, formed in 1830-1831, was disbanded in the early 1900s but has since been re-created circa 1990. The oldest known mystic society in the history of Mobile was the Boeuf Gras Society, founded in 1711, but it ceased in 1861, during the American Civil War
, as later Mobile was occupied by Union troops and all public activities were heavily restricted.
is the oldest remaining mystic society
Mystic society
A mystic society is a Carnival social organization, similar to a krewe in New Orleans, that presents parades and/or balls for the enjoyment of its members, guests, and the public. The term came to be used in this context in Mobile, Alabama. Mystic society membership is secret. The societies have...
to celebrate Mardi Gras in Mobile
Mardi Gras in Mobile
Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama[pronounce] is the oldest annual Carnival celebration in America, having begun in 1703,over 15 years before New Orleans was founded ....
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. The Order of Myths chose, as its symbolic emblem, Folly
Folly
In architecture, a folly is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but either suggesting by its appearance some other purpose, or merely so extravagant that it transcends the normal range of garden ornaments or other class of building to which it belongs...
chasing Death around a broken column of life, imagery that was considered, following the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, as a symbol of the "Lost Cause". During parades, a person dressed in a jester's suit, as Folly, chases a person dressed in a skeleton suit as death, around a Greek column on the emblem
Emblem
An emblem is a pictorial image, abstract or representational, that epitomizes a concept — e.g., a moral truth, or an allegory — or that represents a person, such as a king or saint.-Distinction: emblem and symbol:...
float. At the conclusion of the traditional OOM parade, Death is defeated, and Folly wins the day.
The first parading mystic society, the Cowbellion de Rakin Society, formed in 1830-1831, was disbanded in the early 1900s but has since been re-created circa 1990. The oldest known mystic society in the history of Mobile was the Boeuf Gras Society, founded in 1711, but it ceased in 1861, during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, as later Mobile was occupied by Union troops and all public activities were heavily restricted.