This entertainer in Montreal reminds us of the flambeaux carriers of New Orleans' night parades

fire breather st jean baptiste 2003
Originally uploaded by Spatial Mongrel.

Let us think of the importance of lighting up the night sky during Carnavale. In days of yore the night parades and parties were lighted by torches. Fire breathers are what we Louisianians would call lagniappe (somethin' extra).

Electric lights are important, yes. But they give no sense of romance and history.

In New Orleans some night parades still feature the flambeaux carriers. They are ranks of men whose joy is to bump and dance to the rhythms of the brass band while holding a torch aloft.