Twelfth Night brings Heralds of Carnival, this year accompanied by Loyola Sneaux

On Monday, the Twelfth Night tradition of the Phunny Phorty Phellows streetcar ride to mark the start of Carnival season that dates back to 1878 will this year pass by a slightly newer annual event, the “Sneaux” at Loyola winter celebration.

The Phunny Phorty Phellows have their origin in a “an historic Mardi Gras organization that first took to the streets 1878 through 1898 … known for their satirical parades,” according to the organization’s website. The krewe was reborn in 1981, and their parade consists of a ride on the St. Charles Avenue streetcar that begins at the Willow Street barn at 7 p.m.

Twelfth Night (the 12th day after Christmas) marks the Catholic feast of the Epiphany, a celebration of the manifestation of the divinity of Christ through his baptism and other events. It is also the beginning of the Carnival season, which will conclude Mardi Gras day.

Now in its seventh year, Loyola University has moved its annual “Sneaux@Loyno” event — when 20 tons of manufactured snow will be spread on the university lawn for a giant snowball fight — to coincide with the Phunny Phorty Phellows’ ride, and the Christmas s’mores of years past will be replaced by a king-cake tasting. The event starts at 6 p.m. and is free and open to the public, but the university’s alumni and College of Business will also hold a viewing party with cocktails and appetizers that costs $15.

For details on the Sneaux event, see the news release from the university below.

It’s going to be a Twelfth Night snowball fight at Loyola in 2014

A “throw me something, mister!” at Loyola University New Orleans is more likely to be answered with a flying snowball than colorful beads during Twelfth Night this year. The university is blanketing its front lawn with more than 20 tons of manufactured snow Monday, Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. to ring in the official start of Carnival season.

Loyola alumni and friends are also hosting a 6 p.m. viewing party in the Thomas Hall plaza fronting St. Charles Avenue to welcome the Phunny Phorty Phellows as they roll by on the streetcar.

Students and neighbors can not only play in the white stuff illuminated by festive purple and green lights, they can also sample and vote for their favorite Mardi Gras king cake. The annual Sneaux@Loyno event is sponsored by the Office of Co-Curricular Programs and the Loyola Student Government Association. It will take place on the Marquette lawn on Loyola’s main campus. Sneaux@Loyno T-shirts are also available for pre-order only online.

The Loyola Alumni Association and the College of Business Alumni Board is hosting the Twelfth Night Celebration to watch the Phunny Phorty Phellows, a New Orleans tradition that first took to the streets in 1878 and was revived in 1981. Attendees can enjoy appetizers, king cake and cocktails while networking with fellow College of Business graduates and faculty. The cost is $15 per person or $10 for young alumni from the classes of 2003 through 2013. Buy tickets for the event online.