Be Sure to Visit my new 1900 Galveston Storm Website at: http://freepages.genealogy.rootseb.com/~barnette 

MARDI GRAS GALVESTON

 Mardi Gras was celebrated in Galveston from 1867 through WWII as a public celebration including parades. Due to the shortage of men during WWII, however, it became a series of private parties celebrated by special social clubs. It was reinstituted in 1985 on the grand scale we know today.

 Mardi Gras is a French term meaning "Fat Tuesday". The term derives from the custom of parading a fat ox through the streets on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. The ox would be eaten at a celebration and feast  just before the Lenten fast.

KING CAKE COMES TO HOUSTON

 While little known or understood outside of the Gulf Coast areas from New Orleans to Pensacola, the King Cake, has made its way to bakery and grocery shelves in the Houston area.

 Tasting much like a cinnamon roll, The King Cake is a brioche-style cake and one of the special symbols of Mardi Gras. It is made from a light rich roll made with flour, butter, eggs and yeast. It usually has a purple, green and gold sugary icing.

 Along the Gulf Coast, the King Cake dates from the first French  settlements in present day Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. Those early French settlers were continuing a custom dating from the 12th Century.

 Known as a Twelfth Night Cake, the King Cake is prepared between the Twelfth Night (January 6), also, known as Epiphany and Ash Wednesday. It was used to celebrate the coming of the three wise men who came bearing gifts for Jesus , twelve days after his birth.

 Originally King Cakes were circular to depict the circuitous route taken by the wise men  to confuse King Herod who would have killed the Christ child. Today King Cakes are found in a variety of shapes.

 King Cakes, in the past, contained a bean, a pea or a figure symbolizing the baby Jesus. Today a small pink plastic baby is used. In 1871 the tradition of choosing the queen of Mardis Gras was determined by who drew the prize from the cake. At modern day office parties, however,  the person who gets the pink baby in their piece of cake is one with the honor of purchasing the next office party King Cake.

 In 1872, the Rex Krewe, a Mardi Gras parade organization in New Orleans, chose the symbolic colors of Mardis Gras-  purple, green and gold. Those colors have been incorporated into the icing on King Cakes. The color purple signifies "justice", green  for "faith" and gold for "power".

GENEALOGICAL DEATHS

 During the last weeks of February the South lost two important genealogists. Ruth Land Hatten CGRS of Jackson, Mississippi and Rev. Donald Hebert, of Mire, Louisiana died in their respective home towns. Both will be missed.

 Hatten was very active with the National Genealogical Society and the Association of Professional Genealogists. She was an instructor at the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University in Birmingham, AL., a longtime genealogical editor and newspaper columnist.

 While not so well known nationally, Father Hebert was celebrated along the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida, in Canada and in France for his 48 volume SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA RECORDS 1750-1916 and  12 volume SOUTH LOUISIANA RECORDS 1794-1920. In addition to publishing his own works, he published titles of other Louisiana authors through his publishing company, Hebert Publications.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY MEETS

 Mic Barnette will be the guest speaker at the Montgomery County Genealogical Society on Monday March 6 from 7 P.M. to 9 P.M. The meeting will be held in the community meeting room of the main library, 100 I-45 North in Conroe. For more information, contact the genealogical librarian at 281-353-9791 ext. 7814.

GENEALOGICAL CLASSES

 Houston author, Emily Croom, will offer a six week genealogy course, Finding Your Roots-Methods and Sources at Houston Community College's Bellaire High School campus, 5100 Maple at Rice. Classes will be held on Tuesdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. commencing March 21 at Houston Community College's Bellaire High School campus, 5100 Maple at Rice.

 Registration prior to March 14 is required. For more  information and to register, contact HCC at 713-718-7720.

 Croom will also offer a two day genealogy course, Finding Your Roots-Methods and Sources, at Houston Community College's 1681 Cartwright Road Missouri City Campus. Classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday March 28 and 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

  For more information and to register, contact HCC at 281-835-5539.

NEWS FROM THE BOOK SHELF

 Census records are one of the most important resources for genealogical researchers. Researchers of Louisiana families will be interested in knowing Frances T. Ingmire has compiled an 1840 LOUISIANA CENSUS INDEX.  The index is available in softcover and hardcover for $38.50 and $48.50, respectfully. Both prices include postage. Order from Mountain Press, P.O.Box 400 Signal Mountain, TN 37377-0400.

 The index includes an alphabetical index to the first and last name of each head of family. Included is the parish and page within the parish upon which the enumeree is listed.