Momus

The God of Blame and Mockery

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"According to an old legend, the first man was made by Zeus, the first bull by Poseidon, and the first house by Athene. On the completion of their labors, a dispute arose as to which had made the most perfect work. They agreed to appoint Momos as judge, and to abide by his decision. Momos, however, being very envious of the handicraft of each, found fault with all. He first blamed the work of Poseidon because he had not made the horns of the bull below his eyes, so he might better see where to strike. He then condemned the work of Zeus, because he had not placed the heart of man on the outside, that everyone might read the thoughts of the evil disposed and take precautions against the intended mischief. And, lastly, he inveighed against Athene because she had not contrived iron wheels in the foundation of her house, so its inhabitants might more easily remove if a neighbor proved unpleasant. Zeus, indignant at such inveterate faultfinding, drove him from his office of judge, and expelled him from the mansions of Olympos." -Aesop's Fables 59 (from Babrius)

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When some members of Comus and the Twelfth Night Revelers decided to band together and pursue the study of literature, they also decided to engage in debate. They chose New Year's Eve as the time to celebrate and they chose their ruler, Momus, the Son of Night, who was expelled from Mt. Olympus. Expelled from Zeus and the other gods, the god of laughter and ridicule soon took refuge among earthly habitants. Motto: Dum Vivimus Vivamus (While We Live, Let Us Live)

A social club was formed, like Comus did, and suitable quarters found. Their first parade was on New Year's Eve, 1872 and included maskers on foot. Knights were also present. Four floats with horsemen and their retainers. It halted at City Hall and presented the newly elected mayor with an emblem of fealty. Momus was mounted and escored by His Knights. The first ball consisted of four tableaux and was held after the parade at the New Orleans Opera House, later known as the French Opera House. Theme: The Talisman

In 1873, the parade consisted of seventeen bizarre floats representing caricatures and burlesques of mankind. A slight rain did not interrupt the procession. Seventeen floats with double features, epitomized the future of the world in caricature. Four years of inactivity followed this celebration. Theme: The Coming Races

In 1876, the date was changed to the Thursday before Mardi Gras. This time continued until Momus ceased parading. The reasons for the change centered around the fact that the ladies were leaving early to prepare for New Year's Day. Plus, the club wanted to participate in Mardi Gras. Floats depicted ridiculous exaggerated characters in original scenes. Theme: Louisiana and Her Seasons

The parade of 1877 were delayed due to the floats being wider than the den exit. The walls had to be broken down to permit the parade to go on. The theme was the history of the demons of the lower world. The masks were copies of oppressive world leaders. Local officials, deeply offended at the seriousness of the satire, saw threats of vengeance circulated. Secrecy kept it from being personal and forced the whole country to join in the laughter. Momus was drawn by sprightly steeds at the head of a bunch of made-up cars. Theme: Hades - A Dream of Momus

The parade of 1878, a masker depicting Queen Mab, was hurled from a chariot during an abrupt turn. He escaped serious injury.

Yellow fever kept the parade in the den in 1879, but resumed the next year. In 1881, the King chose Elise McStea as his queen - Momus' first. No coromation was held. No jewels. No bouquet.

In 1880, heroines of history were simulated by maskers in costumes. Theme: A Dream of Fair Women.

1881 - Legends and fairy tales were among the themes in this procession. Queen: Elise McStea Theme: Scenes from Popular Subjects

1882 - The Hindu poem was an inspiration for this parade. Momus was in white on a black charger. Some claimed then, that this was the best parade ever. Theme: The Ramayana

Iin 1883, Momus permission from Comus to reign on Mardi Gras night. Costumes from overseas for the 1883 Proteus and Momus presentations did not arrive until Mardi Gras night and Momus maskers donned costumes used in previous parades. Momus became ever grateful to Comus for the assistance rendered. Ball Theme: The Moors in Spain

It was thought that Momus had the right to select his queen, and in some cases did. And, on one occassion the chosen queen's father declined the invitation due to not having the money to buy a costume. This changed the procedure for good, as the club was embarrassed.

1884 - Momus, as the Son of Night, was emblazoned on an imaginary Moon in front of whimsical cars. Theme: The Passions

1885 - Nymphs, sprites, fairies, elves and other legendary characters were depicted on floats of imposing brilliancy. The King and Queen of Carnival attended the Momus Ball in 1885 and were given a royal welcome. Queen: Leila Bohn Theme: The Legends Beautiful

In 1886, Momus did not appear.

In 1887, the folklore of the early inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere formed a basis for this spectacle. Momus saluted his first group of Maids of Honor after the parade. All maskers were costumed alike due to a bank failure. Queen: Cora Semmes Theme: Myths of the New World

In 1888, the God of Mirth did not appear. Street pageants disappeared for many years.

1889 - No Momus on the streets, but the Tableau Ball's theme was The Culprit Fay Queen: Jennie Morris

1890 - Queen: Bussie Glenny Theme: Paradise and the Peri

1891 - Tableau Ball only. Queen: Amelia Aldige Theme: Palmer Cox's Brown

1892 - Queen: Sallie Reeves Hewes Theme: Aladdin or the Wonderful Lamp

1893 - Queen Ella Barkley Theme: The Legend of the Four Leaf Clover

1894 - Queen: Louise Dunbar Theme: The Fairies and the Fiddler

1895 - Queen: Charlee Elliott Theme: Mahabarata (The Wooing and Wedding of Nala and Damayanti)

1896 - A miniature pageant of eighteen cars on stage included famous characters and historical events of Roman eras were included in the ball celebration. Queen: Alice Buckner Theme: Comic History of Rome

1897 - Queen: Lydia Finlay Theme: Domino

1898 - Queen: Katherine Eustis Theme: Bal Masque

1899 - Queen: Lena Logan Theme: Cinderella of the Little Glass Slipper

1900 - The street parade reappeared. It included a Utopian revue of the mythical Arthurian romances. Queen: May Waters Theme: Legends from the Court of King Arthur

1901 - High days and holidays were celebrated in the parade this year. Queen: Myrthe Stauffer Theme: Our Festivals

1902 - Visions and romances of the celebrated English poet, Milton, were everywhere. Queen: Fannie Buckner Theme: Byron's Poems

1903 - The supernatural traditions of the American Indians were delineated by spectacular scenes and maskers in feathered costumes. Queen: May Schwartz Theme: Myths of the Red Men

1904 - Depicted this year was a celebration of earthly ostentations. Queen: Carrie G. Charles Theme: Visions of the World's Vanities

1905 - The romance of the spiritual world AND the civil head of the Moorish dynasty of Seville was the focus of this year's celebrations. Queen: Florence Kells Theme: Vathek, Ninth Caliph of the Abassides

1906 - Legendary tales of Lafcadio Hearn were personified by a lively krewe in beautiful costumes of Eastern magnificence. Queen: Daisy Charles Theme: Leaves from Oriental Literature

1907 - The search for the ever-attractive fountain of youth was the focus of 1907. Queen: Harriette Waters Theme: The Quest for the Fountain of Youth

1908 - Familiar inanimate characters of the imaginary tales of the ancient Greek scribe thrilled the crowds this year. Queen: Bessie Devlin Theme: Aesop's Fables

1909 - Momus was surrounded by huge black cats and grotesque omens and beliefs Queen: Lea Callaway Theme: Signs of Superstitions

1910 - A sea dragon supported the God of Mirth with insects and feathered flocks. Queen: Alice Hardie Theme: The Winged World

1911 - Floral nomenclature was featured in this celebration of beauty. Queen: Laura Hobson Theme: The Language of Flowers

1912 - Lively floats depicting parades from 1872 livened up this celebration. Twenty years of parades. Fortieth anniversary was celebrated with a number of former queens. Queen: Susan Merrick Theme: Chronicles of Momus

1913 - Flighty episodes of myths appeared in rolling cars. Queen: Katherine Rainey Theme: Above the Clouds

1914 - Grotesque floats depicting ludicrous bits of absurdity and laughing maskers formed the nucleus of this parade's theme. Queen: Doroty Johnson Theme: Odds and Ends of Nonsense

1915 - Quizzical interrogations was presented. Queen: Elizabeth Carroll Theme: Tales of the How and Why

1916 - Sketches of fairy land experiences was obvious this year. Comical characters filled the floats. Queen: Marcelle Grima Theme: Pinochio

1917 - The extravagant stories of the Baron Munchausen was the focus of the procession. Queen: Elise Perrilliat Theme: The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

1918 and 1919 - No Momus

1920 - No parade this year, but the ball went on. Queen: Mary Virginia Perkins Theme: A Pierrot Ball

1921 - The talbleau ball was held at Jerusalem Temple. Queen: Martha Vairin Theme: The Battle of Don Carnival with Lady Lent

1922 - Queen: Ellene White Theme: The Dream of Rosie

1923 - An illuminating caravan of visions of Alice accompanied Momus in his parade. Queen: Phro Broussard Theme: Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass

1924 - The tales of the enlightened one were brought out in the parade. The birth and fables of Buddha made for a fabulous celebration. Queen: Bessie Johnson Theme: The Jatakamala - Tales of Buddha's Lives

1925 - Momus presented a noteworthy display of proverbs and maxims in whimsical cars. Queen: Lucille Howard Theme: Popular Quotations of Long Ago

1926 - Greek gods and goddesses produced a spectacular show this year. Queen: Jane Wall Theme: Deities of Greek Mythology

1927 - Elf Land was represented by strange settings and figures swaying to and fro. Queen: Peggy Fox Theme: The Wonderful Adventures of Nils

1928 - The tale of the Rising Sun was the central idea this year. Queen: Eliska Tobin Theme: Wonder Tales of Old Japan

1929 - Anecdotes of nursery lore were all over the rolling views. Queen: Josephine Solari Theme: Sandman Stories

1930 - Annual daily diversions was the focus in this year. From New Year to Christmas. Queen: Lucille Scott Theme: Father Time's Holidays

1931 - Floats depicting popular lyrics and melodies accompanied marching bands this year. Queen: Nina Pratt Theme: Broadcasting Old Favorites

1932 - Lighted moving scenes of brilliancy rolled in the streets. Queen: Irene Rice Theme: Snapshots from Movieland

1933 - The first depiction of Momus in 1872 was revisited. Queen: Olivia Bartlett Theme: Memories of Long Ago

1934 - Queen: Catherine Eaves Theme: Alexander the Great's Conquest of Bactria, Sogdiana and Roxana

1935 - Queen: Suzanne LaCour Theme: In Celebration of the Purchase of Louisiana Territory by the United States

1936 - Queen: Eleanor Harkey Theme: An Evening With Lafitte

1937 - Queen: Katherine Howard Theme: Operas of Yesteryear

1938 - Narratives based on popular traditions was obvious this year. Tinsel-covered cars made their way through the streets. Queen: Marjorie Clarke Theme: Legends

1939 - Queen: May Miles Theme: Familiar Proverbs

1940 - Proverbial phrases of juvenile days were recalled by the krewe. Queen: Patricia Woodward Theme: Sayings We Learned in Childhood

1941 - Books and romances of youth was the focus of the procession and ball this year. Queen: Carolyn Himel Theme: Stories That Will Never Die

1942 through 1945 - No presentations as the world was at war

1946 - The first parade in five years saw Momus looking at its former parades. Queen: Ellie Witherspoon Theme: Recollections of the Past

1947 - Seventy-five years of MomusQueen: Isabel Joy Werlein Theme: Anniversaries

1948 - Momus paid tribute to lyrics and ballads of olden days. Queen: Joan Denis Ellis Theme: The Songs of Yesteryear

1949 - Momus abandoned his parade and yielded to Jupiter Pluvius. Queen: Jean Gibbons

1950 - Romantic scenes of famous loves. Queen: Mary Foster Theme: Loves and Lovers

1951 - No Presentation - National Emergency Queen: Mary Barksdale Craig

1952 - Momus rode under a traditional velvet canopied throne at the head of famous operative scenes. Queen: Joan Schwing Theme: Momus Goes to the Opera

1953 - The knights of the round table were depicted in 1952. Queen: Martha Chaffe Theme: King Arthus and His Knights

1954 - Queen: Mary Lee Burke Theme: The Pleasures of Momus

1955 - Momus rode in a golden car while he celebrated the zodiac Queen: Katherine Blair Monroe Theme: Signs of the Zodiak

1956 - A traditional parade of jolly masqueraders representing holidays and festivals prevailed in the street while Momus waved. Queen: Helen Louise Scott Theme: Festivals of the World

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