Picture it, Mardi Gras in Houma at Le Petit Théâtre De Terrebonne. The year was 2012. A belly dancer and a circus clown, best of friends, were enjoying their yearly masquerade when a couple of dudes burst the revelers’ bubbles with the question, ‘Why y’all dressed up? Y’all riding?’ Of course we weren’t riding, we were obviously dancing on the steps right in front of their faces. The belly dancer was not amused, and started to complain. Luckily, a family friend overheard and offered advice, ‘If you want people to do something, you start a club.’ Thus was the beginning of Houma’s Krewe of Tradition. The following year, a costume contest was held in the alley between Fabregas Music and Le Petit Théâtre De Terrebonne. It was a small affair, but one with grass roots. The merry makers quickly realized the need to advertise this event with more than just a flier. They enlisted help from Houma’s Downtown Development Agency who suggested developing a logo. Mardi Gras of 2014 was freezing and wet. But for two talented costumers that hadn’t received the cancellation memo, there wouldn’t have been a royal court at all that year. It was 2015 that the krewe organized its first foot parade to let the people know how Mardi Gras should be celebrated. Since then the krewe has seen many milestones like twin queens and a Sunday extravaganza of parades (to avoid supposed snow in the forecast) in 2015. In 2018 the Krewe expanded its repertoire and hosted a headdress building workshop through support from the Louisiana Division of the Arts . That same year, a lady was chosen to receive the title King of Non-Tradition (a now defunct award category.) It was also in 2018 that the Krewe first settled on its signature throw, the K of T pecan, an homage to the Zulu coconut. The Krewe of Tradition received recognition as a 501(c)7 social club in the spring of 2019 and was able to produce events for one more Carnival season before Stay at Home orders began and the pandemic changed the way we live. The Krewe proudly developed a virtual presence with Mardi Gras School and a Virtual Costume Contest in 2021. Due to damage from hurricane Ida, the Krewe was forced to adapt to a new route and contest location in 2022; and they did it successfully with great finesse.”
2013 Krewe of Tradition’s Royal Court I
left: King of Non-Tradition- Jake Cenac
2nd from left: Queen of Non-Tradition- Charlotte Gros
2nd from right: Queen of Tradition- Phebe Foret
right: King of Tradition- John Sonnier
Royal Accoutrements:
(both queen’s crowns had feathers and were built on a base of sequined elastic)
Tradition royalty- Silver medallions w/ Purple, Green Gold accents
Non-tradition royalty- Silver medallions w/ rainbow accents
2014 Krewe of Tradition’s Royal Court II
left: past King (I) & Krewe Co-founder- John Sonnier
2nd from left: Queen of Tradition II- Shanna Alcide
2nd from right: Krewe of Tradition Queen Mum- Shannon Eaton
right: King of Tradition II- Rocky McKeon
Royal Accoutrements:
(Frozen, almost canceled. )
Queen crown- green medallions w/red & yellow accents and contrasting jewels
King crown- Silver medallions w/ Purple, Green Gold accents & matching jewels
2015 Krewe of Tradition’s Royal Court III
left: Queen of Non-Tradition- Valerie Knight
2nd from left: Duke of Tradition Jude ____?
3rd from left: The Chicken King- West Williams
4th from left: The Boat King of Non-Tradition- Luca Raffignone
2nd row: Twin Queens of Tradition,Sonny Pierre & Kd Puckett
On Bicycle: Maid of Tradition & Krewe Co-founder – Whitney Loupe
Royal Accoutrements:(both queen’s crowns had feathers & were built on a base of sequined elastic)
Tradition royalty- Gold medallions w/ purple & green accents and contrasting purple & green jewels. Extra smaller jewels were added because of accidental extra holes poked.
Non-Tradition royalty- King Silver medallions w/ red & blue accents & contrasting red & blue jewels
Queen silver sequined headband with pink medallion and red jewel & feather
2016 Krewe of Tradition’s Royal Court IV
2nd row left: Queen of Tradition IV and Krewe Co-Founder- Reyna O’Neal
2nd row 2nd from left: King of Tradition IV and Krewe Co-founder- Jason Serrano
2nd row 3rd from left: King of Non-Tradition IV- Brian Marks
2nd row 4th from left: Duke of Tradition IV- John Henderson
left Power Wheels rider: Queen of Non-Tradition IV Savannah Thomas
right Power Wheels rider: Maid of Tradition IV Emily Thomas
Royal Accoutrements:
(both queen’s crowns were crafted in the Downton Abbey inspired headband with a three doubloon medallion adorned with a center jewel)
Tradition royalty- Gold medallions w/ purple & green accents
Non-Tradition royalty- King Red medallions w/ red & gold accents
2017 Krewe of Tradition’s Royal Court V
1st three people far left, our 1st group award: “The Swamp Family” Raegan Creppel & Fly.
1st row: two people at the center, past king & queen (IV)- Jason Serrano & Reyna O’Neal
1st row far right: Duke of Tradition V- Maximus Gautreau (& Mom)
2nd row left: Maid of Tradition V- Stacey Marks
2nd row 2nd from left: King of Tradition V- Sam Levron
2nd row Center: Queen of Tradition V- Shannon Knight
2nd row 2nd from right: Queen of Non-Tradition V- Heidi Domangue
2nd row right: King of Non- Tradition V- Chris LeBlanc
Not Pictured: Group of Tradition: Nanessa Bonvillain, Amy LeBlanc, & Joan Boudreaux- The Marie Antoinettes
Royal Accoutrements:
(both queen’s crowns were built on a tiara and featured hanging/dangling jewels. Queen of non-tradition also had a king cake baby with pink tulle on her crown)
Tradition royalty- Gold ring around entire crown w/ purple center & green top/bottom accents
Non-Tradition royalty- King Pink & blue alternating around entire crown with pink medallion @ center.
2018 Krewe of Tradition’s Royal Court VI
Batcar float rider: Maid of Tradition- Lucy Pippen
1st row far left: King of Tradition VI , Lance Brown
1st row 2nd from left: Queen of Tradition VI, Mary Chauvin
In front of Queen: Duke of Tradition VI, Coy LaBauve
2nd row left (between King & Queen): King of Non-Tradition- Laura McKnight
2nd row 2nd from left: Queen of Non-Tradition VI- Julie Pie
3 Cups Top row: Group Award- Busy Bee Snowballs
(Dr. “Bee” Babin, Billie “Bee” Babin, & J “Bee” Daigle)
Two people to the right: krewe co-founders Shannon Eaton & (past maid) Whitney Bergeron
Royal Accoutrements:
Tradition Royalty- Alternating Gold, Green, & Purple attached to medieval crown base. Flower medallion at the front center of green petals & purple center.
Non-Tradition Royalty- Pink & Red alternating (to honor Valentine’s Day on ASh Wed.) along medieval crown base. Queen’s medallion was red w/ pink center. King’s medallion was top & bottom red, left & right silver, with gold center.
Maid & Duke- umbrellas
Group award- gold doubloon drape.
2019 Krewe of Tradition’s Royal Court VII
1st row left: Maid of Tradition VII , Mina Thibodaux
1st row right: Duke of Tradition VII, Mason Pippen
2nd row left: Queen of Tradition VII, Aimee Eschete
2nd row right: Queen of Non-Tradition-Kristen Anglette
2nd row left: King of Tradition VII- Donnie O’Neal
2nd row right: King of Non-Tradition VII- Kai Martin
Royal Accoutrements:
Tradition Royalty- Green spring crown around head, gold medallion, purple center
Non-Tradition Royalty- Green & blue alternating around the head, pink cherry blossom medallion, gold center.
Maid & Duke- Umbrellas
Group award- 5 gold medallion Mardi Gras Drape pins
2020 Krewe of Tradition’s Royal Court VIII
1st row left: Page of Tradition VIII , Abigail Zimmer
1st row middle:Duke of Tradition VIII, Peter Pan’s Shadow Olivia Crochet
1st row right: Duke of Tradition VIII, Peter Pan Lane Crochet
1st row between dukes of tradition: Page of Tradition VIII, Rhonin Landry
2nd row left: Maid of Tradition VIII, Jennifer Pippen
2nd row center: Queen of Tradition VIII-Nancy Breaux
2nd row right: King of Tradition VIII- TJ Voclain
Royal Accoutrements: The Purple and Gold doubloons were chosen for the king and queen’s crowns to celebrate the National Championship title win for LSU in 2019.
Maid/ Duke- Umbrellas
Pages: medallion necklace
***all royals also received a sash and pin
2021 Krewe of Tradition’s Royal Court IX
Center left: Queen of Tradition IX- Holly Landry
Center right: King of Tradition IX- Mom Buchanan
Top left: Duke of Tradition IX- Randy Roth
Middle left: Page of Tradition IX(& group award winner)- Emily Cummings
Bottom left: group award winner- Abby Cummings
Top right: Maid of Tradition- Kaysie Boudreaux
Middle right: Page of Tradition IX- Lydia Lapeyrouse
Bottom right: group award winner: Chloe Cummings
Royal Accoutrements: The red doubloons were chosen for the king & queen’s crowns to represent the earliest Covid molecule renderings that you’ve seen in the media and on your phone’s emoji list. The centerpiece of each crown features a rarely minted black doubloon as a solemn reminder of those we’ve lost to the pandemic and they are bejeweled with a second Covid molecule, this time in green- to represent the Delta variant that prevented our annual mid-summer Mardi Gras meetup
.
Maid/Duke: black umbrellas
Groups awards: drape doubloons
***all royals including Pages also received sashes and pins.
2022 Krewe of Tradition’s Royal Court X
Front row left: Page of Tradition X , Arianna Acosta
Front row right: Page of Tradition X , Athena Duval
Top left: Duke of Tradition X, Pat Cook
2nd from left: King of Tradition X- Rob Leger
2nd from right: Queen of Tradition X- Christine Bordelon
Top right: Maid of Tradition X: Jace Rhodes
Royal Accoutrements: Green doubloons are always used for the crowns during a year that Mardi Gras Day falls in March. The green is to represent the coming of spring. The centerpiece doubloon is also green and is set within four gold coins of local lineage. The Centerpiece was chosen to pay homage to the tableau theme of 2022- “Nature: To forever mix with the elements.”
Maid/Duke- White decorated umbrellas
Pages sashes and pins (as also received by other royals)
Krewe of Tradition 