2005 Parade

Who are the Muses?

We Celebrate Women of Legend, Women of Art, Women of History, Women of New Orleans.

To the people of New Orleans they are street names, often mispronounced. In Greek mythology the nine Muses were the daughters of Zeus. Their mother was Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory. The Muses were wild until reformed by Apollo, who tamed them and taught them ways to express themselves.

Initially, the Muses didn't have personalities or names, but later they were all assigned names and specific virtues. Clio was the Muse of history, Urania of astronomy, Euterpe of lyric poetry, Polyhymnia of songs to the gods, Melpomene of tragedy, Thalia of comedy, Terpsichore of dance, Calliope of epic poetry, and Erato of love poetry.

They will gather for Mardi Gras 2005 and celebrate the legend of the Nine Muses. They will celebrate their wildness before they were tamed, their virtues after they were appointed and their place in the mystique of New Orleans, where each virtue seems to thrive. 

Specialty Floats

Look for the fabulous Muses Shoe – entirely covered in fiber optics that change colors as the shoe steps out down the avenue and the word Muses magically appears and disappears on the side…and The Bathing Muses Bathtub (details to follow!)

Throws 2005

For 2005 the Krewe of Muses, a krewe that has become known for wonderful and unusual throws, proudly introduces the best throws ever found on St. Charles Avenue.

This year the Muses are throwing:

Theme throws! Muse TV – we’ll turn you on – is on the air and to commemorate the theme of this year’s parade Muses will be throwing fabulous pink and black theme beads with a clear polystone TV as well as theme Frisbees in neon colors and Muse TV dolls and Muse TV can huggies.

Shoemania! Muses love their shoes and this year’s shoe bead is a hot pink slingback with silver glitter stars. Also look for the return of the popular shoe bracelet – this year being thrown alone or with matching earrings and the Historic Bead featuring a Muses shoe from each year. Pink squeaky shoes are tossed as squeaky toys for the Mardi Gras hound or as clips or three on a bead!

Lighting up the throws this year is the first ever fiber optic bead, muse leaf strobes, flashing Muses blue bracelets and a noisy flashing ball. Tiny bootie beads also light up.

Girlie stuff! The 5^th Anniversary Commemorative Musie doll is wearing the same costume as the members and an ivy head wreath and beads! Purses are back with hot pink trim and ribbon.

The Glitter shoe – Muses own specialty throw. Only the most fortunate Mardi Gras reveler will be handed a specially decorated real shoe – the ultimate Muses fan treasure. Shoes are made by a select few individual members of the krewe, often signed and dated.

Also, look for soccer balls, glass beads and other fabulous Muses throws for 2005!

The Muses and the Community

One of the goals of the krewe of Muses from the first Krewe meeting in 2000 was to create an organization deeply involved in the community. As they did for their charter year the Muses chose to hold a contest for the design of the official krewe cup. Entries were sent to New Orleans area public schools.

The 2005 Cup contest winner is L.E. Rabouin High School student, 16-year-old Rashawn Williams. Rashawn’s art will appear on the Krewe of Muses cup with her depiction of the Muse of Music and Flutes. (Rashawn will be in the stands – please acknowledge her.)

To enhance community involvement the Krewe of Muses also works with different groups on the decoration of the masks for the riders. Members visit homes and hospices in the greater New Orleans area and reach out to involve the community in the parade! As each float is mentioned we will also mention who did the mask projects.

In 2003 the Muses created The Krewe of Muses Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization devoted raising and distributing money in the community. Muses also has held shoe drives among its membership in the past 2 years collecting shoes for women in New Orleans area battered women’s shelters and programs like Dress for Success.

In conjunction with the honorary Muse project, the Krewe is donating $1,000 to the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic. The New Orleans Musicians' Clinic was founded in 1998 with the vital mission of providing access to primary and comprehensive health care for professional musicians and their families in the greater New Orleans metropolitan area.

With extensive volunteer support from medical professionals, lawyers, musicians, social workers, graphic designers, students and music lovers, the NOMC has developed a membership of more than 900 musicians and their families and has provided health services through more than 3200 patient encounters.

And Now…Muses 2005 rolls!