The Best Characters to Party with on Mardi Gras

[Image by 272447 from Pixabay]

Here at Quirk Books, we love Mardi Gras. What with the vivid colors, ornate masks, delicious food, free-flowing beverages, and all-out parties, what’s not to adore? In honor of this raucous holiday, we compiled a list of characters we would want to party with the most. Laissez les bon temps rouler with these five party animals!

[Movie still from Hercules, Walt Disney Pictures]

Dionysus from Greek Mythology

Let’s begin with the literal god of partying. Dionysus is the god of wine, so we all know he has Fat Tuesday partying down to an art. If you stick with him, your wine cup is never going to be empty. The best part? You’ll probably start your own parade, since his followers are known for playing awesome music. It’s like he was meant to captain a New Orleans parade float. Before you know it, you’ll have women dancing frenetically in a line behind you. Just make sure they don’t tear you to pieces (sorry, Orpheus).

[Movie still from Beowulf, Paramonut Pictures]

Hrothgar from Beowulf

Hrothgar throws such killer parties that monsters crash them. Can you think of anyone better to celebrate Mardi Gras with? He’ll make sure that his tables are groaning under the weight of hundreds of dishes, and that barrels of beer are more plentiful than fistfights amongst his soldiers.  Are you afraid of getting pulled into a tussle? Don’t worry; he has Beowulf at his back and call. Nobody is going to mess with you as long as you’re part of Hrothgar’s posse. Brush up on your Old English, then get down with Hrothgar and co.

The Wife of Bath from The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

If you’re single and looking for a romantic connection during Mardi Gras, we can think of no better wingman than the Wife of Bath.  She’s had five husbands and isn’t afraid to talk about them, so she clearly has great game and will share her advice freely. Also, she’s loaded from those five marriages, so she’ll pay for those Hurricanes and tequila shots. The best part? She might lend you her red stockings for the night.

Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Similarly, if you’re feeling down about love because your crush has decided to stay a virgin for the rest of her life (we hate it when that happens), Mercutio will get you over your heartbreak. How? By dragging you out to the Mardi Gras festivities so you can meet someone new! This charming and talented lad will even help you make a subtle, sensible costume. You know, so you can avoid getting noticed by all your mortal enemies when you decide to crash their party. As people sensibly do on the reg.

Or maybe you’re just trying to get noticed as the belle or beau of the ball. Mercutio has a killer sense of style, so either one works. This boy is there for you.

Daisy from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

You may be wondering why we’re listing Daisy instead of Gatsby, but think about it. Who inspired Gatsby to throw the best parties this side of West Egg? Daisy. There was no way he would have thrown his beautiful bashes without external motivation. Besides, if you’re best buds with the host, you have to help put out appetizers and clean up. You don’t want to have to do that on Mardi Gras! What you want is to hang out with the person people are throwing parties for. And the best part? You can stumble back to your hotel and let someone else wash the dishes.