How to Pronounce krewe

Meaning and Context

A krewe is the fundamental organizing body of the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans, Louisiana, a private social club that plans and executes the elaborate parades and exclusive balls that define the city's world-famous Carnival season. Each krewe, such as the historic Krewe of Rex, founded in 1872, or the massive super-krewe Krewe of Endymion, operates under its own mythology, hierarchy, and traditions, designing spectacular floats, coordinating marching bands, and creating intricate throws—treasured items like beads, doubloons, and plush toys tossed to cheering crowds. These organizations, which range from old-line, secretive societies to modern, open-membership groups, are the lifeblood of New Orleans culture, preserving centuries-old customs while driving tourism and community engagement through their dazzling displays of artistry and pageantry during the festive period leading up to Fat Tuesday.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The standard and correct spelling is "krewe," a distinctive New Orleans variant of the word "crew." This intentional misspelling is a historic tradition dating to the 19th century, first popularized by the Mistick Krewe of Comus in 1857 to evoke a sense of antiquity and mystery. Common misspellings and typos include "crew" (which loses the cultural specificity), "crewe" (an older English spelling sometimes confused with the local term), and "krew." Another frequent error is the incorrect capitalization; while "Krewe" is capitalized when part of an official proper name (e.g., Krewe of Muses), the term is typically lowercase when used generically (e.g., "several krewes paraded on Sunday"). Non-locals and automated spell-checkers often incorrectly "correct" the term to "crew."

Example Sentences

To experience the pinnacle of Mardi Gras spectacle, many visitors plan their trip around the Krewe of Endymion's enormous Saturday night parade.

After years on the waiting list, she was thrilled to finally receive an invitation to join a prestigious krewe and participate in its private tableau ball.

Each krewe carefully guards the theme of its upcoming parade until the first float rolls down the avenue.

The family-friendly Krewe of Barkus, a krewe dedicated to parading with costumed pets, showcases the wonderfully quirky side of New Orleans Carnival traditions.

His collection of rare, hand-painted doubloons, each stamped with a different krewe's emblem, documented decades of Mardi Gras history.

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