About the Knights of Babylon

The Krewe of Babylon, is the Carnival's most interesting Krewe when it comes to this schedule. In some future years this Krewe will probably become one of the future Super Krewes because of it's very make up. It consists of prominent business men and women from around the country.

Founded in 1939 the group has consistently turned in some of the best parades for over sixty years. At last count the group had 250 members or Knights and was still growing.

Babylon was an very important city located on the Euphrates River in southwest Asia, several centuries ago. The Mardi Gras krewe bearing it's name was founded in 1939 in New Orleans. The men called knights, also call their reigning monarch Sargon-just like the king who was the legendary monarch of the ancient Semitic races.

True to Carnival and Masonic tradition, from which a fair number of these gentlemen come, they are very secretive in nature. Since it means a great deal to the Knights the identity if their king is never released to the general public.

The exact title of Babylon's elaborate parade and ball theme are also undisclosed until the day of the event. Customarily, each float depicts a chapter in a continuing story, usually historical, classical or literary in theme.

 History of the Knights of Babylon

The Jester's Club, the sponsoring organization of the Knights of Babylon, was founded on June 24, 1939 by a group of New Orleans professionals who wanted to stage a first-class Parade for the public and a first class Tableau Ball for their ladies. They continue to adhere to that tradition. Babylon has always received the highest praise, particularly for doing it the “right way.” Their floats are the same design they were 70 years ago and still have the traditional flambeaux with the King’s Float being mule drawn. Unlike many other organizations, they own all of their floats and own the den where the floats are housed.

The parade travels the traditional New Orleans route down St. Charles Avenue. the krewes traditional Tableau Ball has been staged at the Municipal Auditorium since the inception of the Organization. However, due to hurricane damage sustained by the Auditorium in August 2005, they moved the ball and supper dance to the Sheraton Hotel on Canal Street where it remains today.

Since its inception, Babylon was held on the Wednesday before Mardi Gras. However, the Krewe of Momus, who traditionally paraded on Thursday stopped parading in 1992 and as a result, in 1993, Babylon moved its parade and tableaux ball to Thursday before Mardi Gras.

 

Babylon - Capital of Babylonia

Babylon, the Capital of Babylonia was an important city of ancient Mesopotami, the ruins of which can be found in present-day Iraq. Babylon became one of the most important cities of the ancient Middle East when Hammurabi (1792-1750 BC) made it the capital of his kingdom of Babylonia. All that remains today of the ancient famed city of Babylon is a mound, of broken mud-brick buildings and debris in the fertile Mesopotamian plain between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in Iraq. Babylon, its namesake Mardi Gras organization was founded in 1939 by a group of men who wanted to stage a first class parade for the public and a first class tableau ball for their ladies. Originally known as the Jesters Club, the Knights of Babylon continues to adhere to the tradition of its founding members. Babylon’s monarch, Sargon, king of Assyria (722–705 b.c.) who is said to have build the city of Babylon, reigns over the parade and ball. Secrecy is of great significance to this Krewe and this is why Sargon’s identity is never revealed to the public as well as the theme is kept secret until parade day.

Knights of Babylon Past Themes 1940 Travelogue 1941 Capricious Nature 1942 (Did not parade due to World War II) 1943 (Did not parade due to World War II) 1944 (Did not parade due to World War II) 1945 (Did not parade due to World War II) 1946 (Did not parade due to World War II) 1947 The Arts 1948 Fancy's Flight 1949 The Sciences 1950 The Marches 1951 Historical Highlights 1952 Contributions to Civilization 1953 Fabulous Festivals 1954 Tales: Old, Ever New 1955 Masks 1956 The Theatre 1957 Makers of History 1958 Scenes from the Opera 1959 Arts Through the Ages 1960 Alice in Wonderland 1961 Rogues and Renegades 1962 The Musical Theater 1963 Hans Christian Anderson 1964 Le Ballet 1965 Poems of Youth 1966 Benjamin Franklin 1967 Behind the Golden Curtain 1968 Gone Are the Days 1969 Don Quixote 1970 Around the World in Eighty Days 1971 The Student Prince 1972 Peer Gynt 1973 Aida 1974 Anna and the King Siam 1975 Robin Hood 1976 Commander Matthew C. Perry 1977 The Little Glass Slipper 1978 Mozart 1979 Henry VIII 1980 Babes in Toyland 1981 Tevye's Tales 1982 Snow White 1983 Kismet 1984 Once and Future King 1985 Desert Song 1986 The Matchmaker 1987 Oklahoma 1988 The Trapp Family Singers 1989 The Golden Years 1990 Pygmalion 1991 Oliver Twist 1992 Carmen 1993 Naughty Marietta 1994 New Moon 1995 Music Man 1996 Gigi 1997 South Pacific 1998 Yankee Doodle Boy 1999 For the Love of Opera 2000 L 'histoire de Notre Heritage Francais 2001 Wonderful Land of Oz 2002 Guys and Dolls 2003 Sauntering Through Sondheim 2004 The Pirates of Penzance 2005 A Frolic in Fairyland 2006 Out from Under 2007 The Chinese Expeditions 2008 The Babylonian Sky 2009 Living Jewels 2010 Masks 2011 Babylonian Birthstones 2012 The Queen's Diamond Jubilee 2013 The Land of Dreams 2014 Thanks for the Memories Mrs. Myrtle Mary 2015 Babylonian Pantheon 2016 Enchantments & Transformations

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