It's Always Mardi Gras in New Orleans: Difference between revisions

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Whenever anyone goes to [[The Big Easy|New Orleans]], it's nearly always during [[Masquerade Ball|Mardi Gras]]. If it isn't actually Mardi Gras, then the [[Denouement]] will occur in a costume/parade storage warehouse. This is probably due to the writers having no sense of geography.
Whenever anyone goes to [[The Big Easy|New Orleans]], it's nearly always during [[Masquerade Ball|Mardi Gras]]. If it isn't actually Mardi Gras, then the [[Denouement]] will occur in a costume/parade storage warehouse. This is probably due to the writers having no sense of geography.


This goes for any city or country with a famous festival; for instance, a large number of episodes set in Mexico take place during ''Di­a de los Muertos'' or ''Cinco de Mayo'', a large number of episodes set in [[Toros Y Flamenco|Spain]] take place in Pamplona during the ''Fiesta de San Fermin'' (of "the running of the bulls" fame, complete with seemingly obligatory [[Thundering Herd]] of ''toros''), and any episode set in Brazil or Venice wanders into Carneval. And while the trope isn't really applicable to [[Big Applesauce|New York City]], there are still a disproportionate number of stories set in the city during the Feast of San Gennaro, or during the Macy's Parade, or in Times Square on New Year's Eve. San Francisco seemingly hosts an excessive number of Pride Marches; one might think that the entire LGBT community is unemployed, or that they have somehow managed to make parade-marching into a source of income. (Hey, it's the U.S.A., and California. It's what we ''do''.) It's also usually Chinese New Year whenever a show's characters end up in Chinatown, and cities with large Irish communities—Boston and Chicago, for example—play host to frequent St. Patrick's Day Parades. However, it's never Bon when characters visit Japan, nor is it the 4th of July when characters visit America...
This goes for any city or country with a famous festival; for instance, a large number of episodes set in Mexico take place during ''Día de Muertos'' or ''Cinco de Mayo'', a large number of episodes set in [[Toros Y Flamenco|Spain]] take place in Pamplona during the ''Fiesta de San Fermin'' (of "the running of the bulls" fame, complete with seemingly obligatory [[Thundering Herd]] of ''toros''), and any episode set in Brazil or Venice wanders into Carneval. And while the trope isn't really applicable to [[Big Applesauce|New York City]], there are still a disproportionate number of stories set in the city during the Feast of San Gennaro, or during the Macy's Parade, or in Times Square on New Year's Eve. San Francisco seemingly hosts an excessive number of Pride Marches; one might think that the entire LGBT community is unemployed, or that they have somehow managed to make parade-marching into a source of income. (Hey, it's the U.S.A., and California. It's what we ''do''.) It's also usually Chinese New Year whenever a show's characters end up in Chinatown, and cities with large Irish communities — Boston and Chicago, for example — play host to frequent St. Patrick's Day Parades. However, it's never Bon when characters visit Japan, nor is it the 4th of July when characters visit America.


Logically, you would think this trope would not apply if the characters are visiting a given area specifically to attend its popular festival, but this is often the ''only'' time said area is ever mentioned in fiction, as if people don't have mundane lives in New Orleans.
Logically, you would think this trope would not apply if the characters are visiting a given area specifically to attend its popular festival, but this is often the ''only'' time said area is ever mentioned in fiction, as if people don't have mundane lives in New Orleans.
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The meteorological equivalent might be that it's always snowing in Canada or Russia, even though both countries are prone to summer heatwaves. Compare [[Gay Paree]], [[The Eiffel Tower Effect]], and [[It's Always Spring]].
The meteorological equivalent might be that it's always snowing in Canada or Russia, even though both countries are prone to summer heatwaves. Compare [[Gay Paree]], [[The Eiffel Tower Effect]], and [[It's Always Spring]].
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{{examples}}


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{{examples}}
== Comic Books ==
== [[Comic Books]] ==
* [[The Punisher]]'s comic book ''Die Hard in the Big Easy'' takes place in a partying New Orleans.He even lampshades it.
* [[The Punisher]]'s comic book ''Die Hard in the Big Easy'' takes place in a partying New Orleans.He even lampshades it.
* Naturally, one of the first English comic book stories featuring José Carioca (from Rio) involves Carnival.
* Naturally, one of the first English comic book stories featuring José Carioca (from Rio) involves Carnival.
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* Subverted in a ''[[Lucky Luke]]'' story where Luke chases the Dalton brothers through the Chinatown of Virginia City, Nevada. It's not Chinese New Year - in fact, it's seven months away - but [[Serious Business|the locals insist that it's important to rehearse seven months in advance]].
* Subverted in a ''[[Lucky Luke]]'' story where Luke chases the Dalton brothers through the Chinatown of Virginia City, Nevada. It's not Chinese New Year - in fact, it's seven months away - but [[Serious Business|the locals insist that it's important to rehearse seven months in advance]].


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== [[Film]] ==

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== Film ==
* In the movie version of ''[[The Fugitive (film)|The Fugitive]]'', Richard Kimble evades capture in Chicago by losing himself in the St. Patrick's Day parade. Funnily enough, this scene ''wasn't'' in the original script - Kimble was going to escape the federal building just as the doors closed between him and Gerard instead - but the crew decided to include it into the story when St. Paddy came while shooting was ongoing in Chicago, thus [[Mind Screw|making this a Real Life occurrence of the trope]].
* In the movie version of ''[[The Fugitive (film)|The Fugitive]]'', Richard Kimble evades capture in Chicago by losing himself in the St. Patrick's Day parade. Funnily enough, this scene ''wasn't'' in the original script - Kimble was going to escape the federal building just as the doors closed between him and Gerard instead - but the crew decided to include it into the story when St. Paddy came while shooting was ongoing in Chicago, thus [[Mind Screw|making this a Real Life occurrence of the trope]].
* In ''[[The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (film)|The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen]]'', the League is first assembled in London, in a very wet and foggy ''July'' as a title-card makes clear; and their first assignment takes them to Venice, during Venice's signature festival, Carnival. This, of course, is the exact same holiday as Mardi Gras or Shrovetide—the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, thus the day on which Catholics overindulge in vices and partying before beginning their Lenten fast. Ash Wednesday is 40 days before Easter, therefore Carnival ''never'' falls in late summer in the northern hemisphere.
* In ''[[The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (film)|The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen]]'', the League is first assembled in London, in a very wet and foggy ''July'' as a title-card makes clear; and their first assignment takes them to Venice, during Venice's signature festival, Carnival. This, of course, is the exact same holiday as Mardi Gras or Shrovetide—the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, thus the day on which Catholics overindulge in vices and partying before beginning their Lenten fast. Ash Wednesday is 40 days before Easter, therefore Carnival ''never'' falls in late summer in the northern hemisphere.
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* In ''[[Rio]]'', all the time they spend there just happens to perfectly time up with the countdown to Carnival.
* In ''[[Rio]]'', all the time they spend there just happens to perfectly time up with the countdown to Carnival.


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== [[Literature]] ==

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* It even works for [[Fantasy Counterpart Culture]]s: in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Witches Abroad]]'', Granny, Nanny and Magrat have a stopover in a vaguely Spanish small town, and end up caught in the middle of a "running of the bulls" knock-off known only as The Thing with the Bulls. When they get to Genua, it's in time for the local equivalent of Mardi Gras, also known as Samedi Nuit Mort ("[[Saturday Night Live|Saturday Night Dead]]" [[Bilingual Bonus|in French]]).
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== Literature ==
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* It even works for [[Fantasy Counterpart Culture]]s: in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld/Witches Abroad|Witches Abroad]]'', Granny, Nanny and Magrat have a stopover in a vaguely Spanish small town, and end up caught in the middle of a "running of the bulls" knock-off known only as The Thing with the Bulls. When they get to Genua, it's in time for the local equivalent of Mardi Gras, also known as Samedi Nuit Mort ("[[Saturday Night Live|Saturday Night Dead]]" [[Bilingual Bonus|in French]]).
* On the edge of this trope is a party in ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'', where the conditions are just right to keep the party going endlessly.
* On the edge of this trope is a party in ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'', where the conditions are just right to keep the party going endlessly.
* Talon gets run over by a Mardi Gras float actually driven by the god Bacchus in Sherrilyn Kenyon's [[The Dark Hunters|Dark Hunter]] series.
* Talon gets run over by a Mardi Gras float actually driven by the god Bacchus in Sherrilyn Kenyon's ''[[The Dark Hunters|Dark Hunter]]'' series.
* When Tracy Whitney returns to her hometown of New Orleans after her mother's suicide in ''[[If Tomorrow Comes]]'', it's during Mardi Gras.
* When Tracy Whitney returns to her hometown of New Orleans after her mother's suicide in ''[[If Tomorrow Comes]]'', it's during Mardi Gras.


== Live-Action TV ==
== [[Live-Action TV]] ==
* Anthony references this trope in the Brazil episode of the travel/food show ''[[Anthony Bourduain]]: No Reservations'', and also averts it; they're four months early for Carnivale. They do stop by at a dance school, though.
* Anthony references this trope in the Brazil episode of the travel/food show ''[[Anthony Bourduain]]: No Reservations'', and also averts it; they're four months early for Carnivale. They do stop by at a dance school, though.
** His post-Katrina New Orleans episode is a complete aversion. Tony came there not at the time of Mardi Gras, focused only on how people struggle to [[Incredibly Lame Pun|stay]] [[Too Soon|afloat]], and showcased the destruction the hurricane brought. Tony, in a [[Deadpan Snarker|very uncharacteristic tone]], showed how much of a big deal [[Comfort Food]] is during times of tragedy.
** His post-Katrina New Orleans episode is a complete aversion. Tony came there not at the time of Mardi Gras, focused only on how people struggle to [[Incredibly Lame Pun|stay]] [[Too Soon|afloat]], and showcased the destruction the hurricane brought. Tony, in a [[Deadpan Snarker|very uncharacteristic tone]], showed how much of a big deal [[Comfort Food]] is during times of tragedy.
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* In ''[[The Wild Wild West (TV series)|The Wild Wild West]]'', it was always Mardi Gras whenever James and Artie visited New Orleans on screen.
* In ''[[The Wild Wild West (TV series)|The Wild Wild West]]'', it was always Mardi Gras whenever James and Artie visited New Orleans on screen.


== Tabletop Games ==
== [[Tabletop Games]] ==
* Subverted in ''Danse de la Mort: Mary's Child'', a pre-made story for ''[[Vampire: The Requiem]]''. The main characters either live in New Orleans or are tourists come to experience Mardi Gras, and the story takes place just as Mardi Gras is ''ending''. Just to hammer the point home, the characters are at one point persuaded to anoint their foreheads with ash ([[Captain Obvious|signifying Ash Wednesday]]).
* Subverted in ''Danse de la Mort: Mary's Child'', a pre-made story for ''[[Vampire: The Requiem]]''. The main characters either live in New Orleans or are tourists come to experience Mardi Gras, and the story takes place just as Mardi Gras is ''ending''. Just to hammer the point home, the characters are at one point persuaded to anoint their foreheads with ash ([[Captain Obvious|signifying Ash Wednesday]]).


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== [[Video Games]] ==

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== Video Games ==
* Averted in ''[[The Adventures of Bayou Billy]]'', where despite the game playing straight [[The Big Easy|many of the usual New Orleans tropes]], it doesn't take place during Mardi Gras.
* Averted in ''[[The Adventures of Bayou Billy]]'', where despite the game playing straight [[The Big Easy|many of the usual New Orleans tropes]], it doesn't take place during Mardi Gras.
* Averted in ''[[Gabriel Knight]]: Sins of the Fathers''. Most of the game takes place in [[The Big Easy|New Orleans]] over the course of several days in June, with only passing references to Mardi Gras.
* Averted in ''[[Gabriel Knight]]: Sins of the Fathers''. Most of the game takes place in [[The Big Easy|New Orleans]] over the course of several days in June, with only passing references to Mardi Gras.
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* ''[[Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge]]''. "Son, it's always Mardi Gras on Booty Island."
* ''[[Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge]]''. "Son, it's always Mardi Gras on Booty Island."


== Western Animation ==
== [[Western Animation]] ==
* ''[[All Dogs Go to Heaven]]'' takes place in [[The Big Easy|New Orleans]], and as such has the obligatory Mardi Gras scene.
* ''[[All Dogs Go to Heaven]]'' takes place in [[The Big Easy|New Orleans]], and as such has the obligatory Mardi Gras scene.
* In the ''[[Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (animation)|Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers]]'' episode "When Mice Were Men", the Rangers travel to [[Toros Y Flamenco|Spain]]; to a place named "Tramplonia", to be more precise. The Running of the Bulls is not only inevitable in this setting, but even a key element in the plot.
* In the ''[[Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (animation)|Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers]]'' episode "When Mice Were Men", the Rangers travel to [[Toros Y Flamenco|Spain]]; to a place named "Tramplonia", to be more precise. The Running of the Bulls is not only inevitable in this setting, but even a key element in the plot.
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* Averted in [[Netflix]]'s ''[[Carmen Sandiego]]'' series; when Carmen's gang goes to New Orleans (shortly after Halloween, making Mardi Gras about four months off) they're upset that they didn't come during the celebration. Although, in the ''next'' episode they show up in Venice in time for Carnevale.
* Averted in [[Netflix]]'s ''[[Carmen Sandiego]]'' series; when Carmen's gang goes to New Orleans (shortly after Halloween, making Mardi Gras about four months off) they're upset that they didn't come during the celebration. Although, in the ''next'' episode they show up in Venice in time for Carnevale.


== Real Life ==
== [[Real Life]] ==
* In Brazil, is frequently joked that in the state of Bahia, Carnival lasts all year long.
* In Brazil, is frequently joked that in the state of Bahia, Carnival lasts all year long.
* This trope exists in the Netherlands as well, particularly for the southern provinces. People from the northern provinces celebrate "carnaval" ''maybe'' one day a year. In the south, it can last ''weeks'', leading to a lot of jokes about how carnaval never ends south of the great rivers. Some people in the southernmost province, Limburg, actually do tend to spend all year preparing for the yearly carnaval, so the trope is partly justified.
* This trope exists in the Netherlands as well, particularly for the southern provinces. People from the northern provinces celebrate "carnaval" ''maybe'' one day a year. In the south, it can last ''weeks'', leading to a lot of jokes about how carnaval never ends south of the great rivers. Some people in the southernmost province, Limburg, actually do tend to spend all year preparing for the yearly carnaval, so the trope is partly justified.
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