Salacia, the goddess of salt water and Neptune’s love, comes to live in human form as a new Mardi Gras krewe makes its Biloxi debut.
The all-female krewe of Salacia is in its inaugural season and welcomes all Coast women. It’s not too late to get in on the fun; memberships still are being accepted.
The brainchild of Coastian Cheli Strumila, the Krewe of Salacia will make its debut for the 2017-2018 Mardi Gras season with 80 krewe members and LuAnn Pappas serving as Queen Salacia 2018.
“We are a parading krewe,” Strumila says, who with her friend and co-captain Gretchen David, are heading up this new endeavor. “We are busy women who do not have time to go to rehearsals or have a large ball, but who want to participate in Mardi Gras. We will be parading with the Krewe of Neptune for our first couple of seasons until we secure our own floats.”
What is more fitting than King Neptune and his wife Salacia coming back together for revelry?
The night before Salacia rolls for the first time, they will celebrate with a party, and prior to the 5:30 p.m. parade on Saturday, Feb. 10, the krewe will host a queen’s breakfast.
Then, it’s show time!
“Our krewe is similar to the krewes of Muses and Nyx in New Orleans, also all-female parading krewes,” Strumila says. “I watched their parades and realized we needed a krewe like theirs on the Coast. Since I am busy with ‘Coast Observer,’ I haven’t been able to participate in the krewes that I was in. I just didn’t have the time, but wanted more than just watching the parades.”
From these thoughts, Krewe of Salacia was born.
Strumila knew the person she wanted to be her co-captain in this adventure — David, whose family has been involved with Mardi Gras for several decades.
Nyx and Muses are made up of busy women, too, but they come together each year to create special throws for parade-goers. Muses throws hand-decorated shoes and Nyx, elaborate hand-beaded purses. Last year, Strumila caught one of the coveted throws and says it was a personal, almost spiritual, experience between float rider and herself.
“She locked eyes with me and threw straight to me,” Strumila says. “It was two women connecting and sharing with one another.”
Since Salacia is queen of the sea and represents the beautiful Gulf Coast, the Krewe of Salacia will be throwing hand-decorated bikini tops.
“These tops are lovely. Each member has to fashion 10 bikini tops,” Strumila says.
“Of course, we will have other throws, too, but these tops will be our signature, thrown especially for the person who catches it.”
On Feb. 10, the Krewe of Salacia will ride and hear the cries, “Throw me a bikini top, Mistress.”
If Salacia sounds like fun, check out kreweofsalacia.com/membership.
MORE INFO
Krewe of Salacia
(228) 424-1530
contact@kreweofsalacia.com
kreweofsalacia.com/membership
facebook.com/KreweofSalacia