The Striker's Independent Society (S.I.S.) is the oldest continuously active

mystic society A mystic society is a Mardi Gras social organization in Mobile, Alabama, that presents parades and/or balls for the enjoyment of its members, guests, and the public. The New Orleans Krewe is patterned after Mobile's Mystics."Carnival/Mobile Mardi ...

Mobile Mobile may refer to: Places * Mobile, Alabama, a U.S. port city * Mobile County, Alabama * Mobile, Arizona, a small town near Phoenix, U.S. * Mobile, Newfoundland and Labrador Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Mobile ...

, founded in 1843 (during Mobile's first American period),

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = " Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,7 ...

. Mobile's Mardi Gras history spans over 300 years, as customs changed with the ruling nations: Mobile was the capital of French Louisiana in 1702, then British in 1763, then Spanish in 1780, entered the Republic of Alabama, was declared American in 1812 (captured in 1813), a U.S. state in 1819, then Confederate in 1860, then became American again in 1865 and participated in

Carnival Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival ...

during

New Year's Eve In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve, also known as Old Year's Day or Saint Sylvester's Day in many countries, is the evening or the entire day of the December 31, last day of the year, on 31 December. The last day of the year is commonly ...

and New Year's Day celebrations. It is the oldest remaining mystic society in America but no longer hosts an annual parade. {{cite web , url=http://www.museumofmobile.com/html/mardi_gras_timeline.php , title=Carnival/Mobile Mardi Gras Timeline , publisher=Museum of Mobile , accessdate=2006-07-02

History

The ''Strikers Independent Society'' was formed initially by young men in Mobile who had been refused membership to the older Cowbellion de Rakin Society (which had been formed in year 1830 by "more sedate and astute men of the city"). In the beginning, it was designated as a bachelor-only society, and if a member married, then they were out of the society. The Strikers, like the Cowbellions, paraded only on New Year's Eve and held their ball on New Year's Day. In 1852, they became the first mystic society to hold a ball at the

Battle House Hotel The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa, is a historic hotel in Mobile, Alabama. The current structure was built in 1908 as the Battle House Hotel. It is the second hotel by that name to stand in this location, replacing an earlier Battl ...

. By 1881, the Strikers Independent Society had discontinued their annual street parades, but continued to hold a grand ball on New Year's Eve, though in 1884, they paraded once more. In 1902, their theme was "Colonial Mobile" celebrating the bicentennial of Mobile's founding (1702). Members wore costumes representing the French, British, Spanish, and American periods of Mobile's history. The Stikers 65th Ball

Offshoots in New Orleans

Just as

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

French Louisiana The term French Louisiana refers to two distinct regions: * first, to colonial French Louisiana, comprising the massive, middle section of North America claimed by France during the 17th and 18th centuries; and, * second, to modern French Louisi ...

(''Louisianne'') about twenty years (1723) after Mobile (1702), the mystic societies of

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

* 1870: Sidney Smith, the son of a Striker (in Mobile), organized the "Twelfth Night Revelers" in New Orleans, nearly 30 years after the Strikers Independent Society was formed in Mobile. The other mystic societies had a reciprocal effect in Mobile from New Orleans, when they paraded in 1865 while Mobile parades had been discontinued due to the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government polic ...

, for they inspired

Joe Cain Joseph Stillwell Cain, Jr. (''Joe Cain'') (October 10, 1832 – April 17, 1904) is largely credited with initiating the modern way of observing Mardi Gras and its celebrations in Mobile, Alabama, following the Civil War. "Joe Cain Articl ...

to return to Mobile, in the midst of the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

occupation, and revive the Mardi Gras celebration in Mobile, where it had started back in 1703.

Notes and references

Secret societies in the United States Mardi Gras Carnival and Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama

History

Offshoots in New Orleans

See also

Notes and references