Club Chronicles
The AFWC Book Lovers Study Club is an affiliate of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs and supports many of its projects. The GFWC founded 75 percent of America’s public libraries and pioneered the idea of the bookmobiles.
As one of Book Lovers’ major projects, it has supported local schools, public library and bookmobiles for a number of years. This year members will join in and support the Krewe de Guard Mardi Gras parade that will raise money for the local public library.
The parade will take place in downtown Russellville this Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
One of the most festive events in Alabama is the Mardi Gras parade in Mobile.
The local Krewe de Guard organization, founded by Russellville native Anna Carol Porter, is sponsoring Russellville’s first Mardi Gras parade. This year our first parade might be small, like the one that started in 1703 in Mobile when French settlers celebrated Mardi Gras at Twenty-Seven Mile Bluff – but with community support, our parade will surely grow.
Members of Book Lovers will volunteer to participate, donate and assist with the parade. Also, the Arts Council members and others will assist with selling King Cake in front of the Historic Roxy Theatre that evening prior to the KGB show.
Everyone is invited, and you may enter the Mardi Gras parade for a small fee.
Following the parade, Doe’s Eat Place and La Nina will prepare Cajun food for the occasion.
All proceeds raised will go to the Russellville Public Library.
Mardi Gras is a Christian holiday usually celebrated by regions with large Roman Catholic populations. As the kickoff to Lent – the period between Ash Wednesday and the Saturday before Easter, or 40 days – Mardi Gras takes place before Catholic observers fast prior to Easter. Mardi Gras began in Rome, but the name is actually French. “Mardi” is French for “Tuesday,” while “Gras” means “fat” – hence, “Fat Tuesday.” It was given this name based on its timing before Ash Wednesday.
This Mardi Gras parade will be a fun event that will bring businesses and citizens together to work toward our continuing revitalization of downtown and also to support our city library. So get your Mardi Gras fun clothes on or wear the Mardi Gras colors – purple, which represents justice; green, which symbolizes faith; and gold, which is the symbol of power – and join all the fun!
