Among the interesting things on the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, since the olden times and not just with respect to today's tourists' expectations are those Indian masks - African-Americans that dress up as native Americans for the occasion.
As Carolyn Morrow Long has it in her book on Marie Laveau (Gainesville 2006, 131f.), there was a similar masquerade at St. John's Eve ceremonials, so that one could find an "interesting link between the dances performed at St. John's Eve and the practices of today's 'Mardi Gras Indian' gangs. The 'Indians' first appeared during carnival around 1885". There is a lot of music referencing the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, by Professor Longhair, Dr John and others. And there is that wonderful album by The Wild Tchoupitoulas, named after a group of those Mardi Gras Indians, led by George "Big Chief Jolly" Landry. He did that one record with the help of some very fine musicians from the region, among them his nephews as vocalists, who later came to fame as the "Neville Brothers". The rest was mostly done by members of "The Meters". Here are two songs:
Big Chief Got a Golden Crown
Hey Hey (Indians Comin')
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