Mardi Gras Returns to Second Life!

 Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Anonymous (But had to be from New Orleans!)

 

It’s that time of the year again!

Christmas and New Year’s Day are behind us.

Snow and darkness have descended.  (At least for some of us.)

But the festival season is about to begin again in Second Life (SL) just as it does in Real Life (RL).

We’re about to wander into Valentine’s Day.  (Not to worry, Significant Other is covered here.)

The Chinese Lunar New Year is about to occur. 

STEAM X is due soon inworld. 

More to come on all of these!

But the biggest and baddest of all these holidays in SL is Mardi Gras! 

My good friend, the Mayor of Mieville, and impresario extraordinaire, Perryn Peterson, will not disappoint!

Fresh from his opening in SL Las Vegas, he’s now about to launch his annual Mardi Gras extravaganza!  (In addition to all the above festivities, Perryn did note when we spoke of all these that the calendar did “squoosh” things together this year.  I love it when he talks tekkie!)

          I know it only seems like yesterday that we let the good times roll down Bourbon Street in the French Quarter inworld, but I’m happy to report that Mardi Gras is returning to SL!

          Mardi Gras will take place at Victorian Steampunk New Orleans in Mieville from Saturday, February 14^th to Tuesday, February 17th.

          Events will include a parade, dance, and a pancake feast!  And much more!!.

          The gala Mardi Gras celebration dance will take place on Tuesday evening, 17th February.  There will be cash prizes for best costumes and titler; food, drink and general good times will be on hand Mardi Gras style!

          Over fifty merchants will be filling their carts will all sorts of wonderful wares which they bring from all over SL.  Walking down the nearby streets will bring visitors to the local shops with their merchandise. 

         

Gachas will be available!

          Remember the merchants will be in the Mardi Gras spirit of “lagniappe”, or, giving customers a little more because of the holiday.

          Mardi Gras in Mieville is a fun and happy time just as it is in RL.

          But, it won’t last long!

          So, hurry down and join the party!

          Tell ‘em web sent you! 

I’d like to thank Perryn for his time and hospitality, in helping me with this story.             

Additional pictures from my visit can be found on this link. 

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives.         

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

          Open roads and kind fires!

 

Festivals in Second Life

 Life is a festival only to the wise.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

                                                                  

          Recently, I realized that there are a lot of festivals in Second Life (SL). 

          Given all the fictional and homegrown festivals that also always seem to be going on inworld there are probably more here than in Real Life (RL)!  (Significant Other indicates that we have enough festivals as it is already.  Boundaries must be respected.)

          Yes, there are the big three, Christmas, Halloween, and Valentine’s Day.

Interestingly, these are supposedly the same big three in RL at least in the Western traditions.

          These festivals are celebrated across SL in a variety of ways.

          Some sims do themselves over for the holiday.  Some exit merely for the holiday and then, poof, are gone until next year.  If they even come back at all.

          Residents get into the spirit of things as much as folks seem to in RL.  (Although, I think the Christmas decorations on homes are even more over the top inworld than in some American developments which is saying a lot.  I wonder if the SL neighbors complain as much too?)

          But, then there are the other festivals which may be a little smaller or restricted to a specific geographic area but are still fun events to attend.

          Recent examples have St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras, and Cinco de Mayo.  (Coincidentally, these are all Perryn Peterson productions!)

          I’m sure there’re more, I just haven’t found them yet.  (Or, Perryn hasn’t celebrated them yet!)

          Other festivals that I’ve come across have been the Chinese Lunar New Year, Day of the Dead, and V-E Day.  All were fun events.

          Dropping by all these festivals got me thinking about what really comprises a festival in SL.

          Festivals seem to fall into three major categories.

          First are those based on RL holidays like Christmas.  (I’m beginning to realize that

there is a religious aspect to these as well but more on that in future stories.)  Others are derived from RL fiction like A Christmas Carol from Charles Dickens’ story.  Finally, others seem to spring from the life and culture of SL itself. Hunts like the Renaissance Hunt & Faire fall into this category.

          Then there’s the commitment behind these.

          These festivals just don’t happen.  Planning and preparation are involved.  Then there’s the promotion of the event.

          Last but not least, people have to come to the festivals.  (Trust me, having thrown more than one party in RL where I was the only attendee this is no fun at all.  Significant Other really amped up my social life!)       

          And they do!

          Once again, I find myself coming back to the sense of community in SL which keeps everybody together and keeps bringing them back. 

          The festivals are just an excuse, albeit a very good one, for people to come together and have a good time.  The interpersonal relationships are the glue that hold SL together.  It’s certainly not Linden Lab’s customer service!

         

As we approach the traditional yearend festivities inworld, I’ll be visiting my usual favorites.

          But, I’d also like to break out of my comfort zone and visit new ones.

          So, please if you’re arranging or know of festivals that are taking place in SL, let me know.  I’ll visit them and post about them.  (Significant Other arches an eyebrow.)

          Hope to meet you there!

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives.         

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

          Open roads and kind fires!