The Mystic Krewe of Nyx

00:00 January 31, 2012
By: David Vicari
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Nyx (not pictured) is an exclusive female krewe [Courtesy of James Macaluso]

Throw me something, missus!


Does that sound a bit funny? Probably because floats full of men have traditionally dominated Mardi Gras parades. But then female krewes, such as Muses and Iris, sashayed onto the scene. Catches from these parades include items for the fashionable New Orleans lady, like those fabulous glittering shoes!


This year, a new female krewe is joining the revelry - The Mystic Krewe of Nyx. Nyx is the goddess of night. According to myth, even the almighty Zeus feared upsetting Nyx since she was such a powerful goddess. The members of this krewe emulate Nyx - the goddess who demanded respect and earned adoration, while being enviously glamorous, of course.


"The Mystic Krewe of Nyx was established to unite women of diverse backgrounds for fun, friendship, and the merriment of the Mardi Gras season," says the krewe captain, Julie Lea. This group of 530 women aims to enhance the spirit of carnival by embracing the traditions that New Orleanians know and love, while adding their own twist and forward-thinking ideas to the mix.


The krewe has quickly come a long way since their conception in 2011. "My two friends and I had the idea to start our own krewe, and we began the initial steps right after the parades ended in March," says Lea.


The group held a meet and greet last July, where ladies sipped licorice-flavored cosmos, ate gourmet finger food, and listened to an inspiring speech about the krewe's mission to ride in Mardi Gras 2012. Then the mass of motivated women pushed with determination and strength to make this happen. "We were very persistent and did not take "no" for an answer," recalls Lea.


The Mystic Krewe of Nyx hit a major milestone when the New Orleans City Council awarded them a permit to ride the St. Charles route on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m.


Lea attributes much of their good fortune to the faith and belief that the members have in their Board of Directors. "Even at the times when things didn't look so good for us, they stood by and supported our efforts every step of the way," says Lea.


Besides overcoming the challenges to earn a permit, assembling a parade from scratch was no easy feat. Whether picking a theme - which will not be revealed until the night of the parade - or acquiring costumes and floats, the krewe paid attention to each tiny detail.


Specialty throws include stylish items that the ladies will love. From custom-made decorated items and dazzling Nyx rings that light up, to boas and headbands, to signature plush trinkets, cups, and doubloons, revelers in the crowd will surely clamor for these sassy throws.


Since some ladies may be looking to add a touch of class to their Mardi Gras ensemble (not that drinking wine from a plastic cup is at all low brow!), an assortment of creamy colored pearls will be in abundance.


But the fun will not be limited to those watching the parade. The costumed ladies love to have fun and will be relishing every moment from the float. After months of hard work and thoughtfulness, strong bonds have developed between the members and paved the way to a not-to-be-missed production.


"What makes me most proud of Nyx is how far we have come in such a short amount of time," says Lea. "We believe women of all ages deserve to be adored, respected, and allowed to let her inner goddess shine through."

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