It’s not easy being royal; just ask the experts

Each carnival Krewe has its own customs.

Some have a relaxed atmosphere where it’s all about the fun. Throw some beads, have a little libation, try not to fall off the float.

Some are more traditional. Sure there’s fun, but it’s also about beautiful and elaborate costumes, gowns, tuxedos, tableaus, pomp and circumstance.

The king, queen, maids, dukes and pages all have their roles to play. They’re expected to behave a certain way. Show a little decorum – a little class.

Etiquette Center of the South owner Mary Chauvin, King Terre XXXIX Randy Bethancourt and Queen Hyacinth XXXIV Suzanne Crochet offer some tips for Carnival royalty and their subjects.

When the king’s float arrives at City Hall, the queen is acknowledged first with a toast. The same holds true when the queen’s float arrives at City Hall. The king is recognized with the first toast.

“My daughter was Queen Terre LVIII and I told her when you’re toasted, you’re being honored and to drink to yourself is boastful. So when they say, ‘Here’s to the queen,’ bow your head, say ‘Thank you’ or hold up your glass. Do not let that glass touch your lips! They are honoring you. If you take a sip, you’re honoring yourself,” Chauvin said.

“When they finish [toasting], they will take the glasses they were drinking from and throw them down and break them. It is tradition that no other king or queen drink from their glass,” Crochet said.

Kings and queens always stand or sit in an upright position; ladies cross their legs at the ankle; no slouching. Bowing is reserved for those honoring the royals.

The royal scepter stays below shoulder height at all times.

“Never lift it up like an umbrella, point with it, allow it to drop down, jiggle it around or dance with it. The scepter is a sign of royalty,” Crochet said.

When greeting their subjects at a ball or tableau, royalty move the scepter side to side. The king and queen will usually make three passes; first to acknowledge their krewe, then invited guests and, finally, members of the audience.

“As their scepters sweep past the guests, the king and queen follow with their eyes. Eyes on your guests, but following the scepter,” Crochet said.

Scepters are always held in the right hand; the left hand is reserved for greeting subjects.

The royal court generally holds a dress rehearsal before the tableau, according to Chauvin. Maids are in full costume, but the king and queen are not. They never wear their costume until the night of the tableau to keep their attire a secret.

When walking at the tableau, the king and queen move in unison – with the queen remaining closest to the audience.

No one is allowed to wear royal crowns except for the current king and queen, and royal pages are reminded to smile and avoid stepping on royal costume trains.

The colors white and gold are reserved for the king and queen of Carnival. This includes gift-wrapping for the royals.

Generally, the gift-giving rules differ between clubs. Some clubs opt to purchase gifts for their royals to dispense.

“Hyacinthians says the king gives a gift to the queen and the queen gives a gift to the king. That’s it. That’s the only thing that’s written. The rest is up to [the individual royals],” Crochet said.

The royals may also present gifts to their maids, dukes, pages and parade and ball captains.

The night of the tableau, the king and queen honor and present gifts to the previous year’s king and queen. Honored guests, immediate family and any other person receiving a gift will do so during throne presentations. When special guests are presented to the royal throne, a curtsey or bow is first in order.

Ball committee members go into the audience after the throne presentations to present flowers or other gifts to family or friends.

Formal attire (floor-length evening dresses and tuxedos) is required for the ball. For krewe members, the full costume – including a mask – is considered formal.

Parties are usually optional but, again, every royal court is different.

“In Hyacinthians, the float that the king or queen rides usually hosts an event in their honor. This year’s king and queen gave a party for the entire club. This is above and beyond what is official to the club,” Crochet said.

“There’s no mandate in a Carnival club that says you must do this, this, and this. The only time the club mandates anything is if it is a club function,” she added.

Keep in mind that merriment, fun and laughter are always proper protocol when participating in Carnival.

Even the season’s moniker comes under scrutiny.

“Technically, it is carnival season, not Mardi Gras season,” Bethancourt said. “Carnival refers to that time of year which begins at the feast of the Epiphany and ends at midnight on Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras.

“So to refer to this time of year as Mardi Gras season is, just wrong. It’s Carnival time.”

Queen Hyacinth XXXIV Suzanne Crochet