As discussed at the membership meeting

For many years, the concept for the Orléans Battalion has been to represent the grateful residents of the city of Orléans, France, at the moment of Joan of Arc’s first victory, lifting the six-month English siege. Joan and her army sidestepped English forces to enter the city on April 29, 1429, with food and supplies, inspiring the citizens of Orléans as well as the relief troops. The English finally withdrew on May 8, 1429. Orléans has celebrated this May 8 victory annually ever since, and those festivities are a major inspiration for our own parade. Centuries later, May 8, 1945, became Victory in Europe day, celebrating the defeat of the Nazi forces that had occupied France. Orléans’ May 8 celebration today is a celebration of both victories and also honors the Americans and other Allies who helped Europe defeat the Nazis.

While this joyous moment of victory has long been our concept for the Orléans battalion, only krewe members’ own throws have conveyed this concept to the crowd. This year we are planning several changes to enhance our storytelling, and we call on YOUR creativity to support these concepts with your own costume and throw plans.

Battalion concept: Victory Feast: The Orléans battalion will now represent the grateful residents of Orléans specifically at the moment of the victory FEAST.
The history: Orléans really had an actual victory feast on May 8 to honor their rescuers, Joan and her army. The starving people of Orléans generously added their last provisions to the siege rescue food that Joan’s army brought into the city. Our queen character, Charles VII’s political mastermind mother-in-law, Yolande, duchess of Anjou, was particularly instrumental in organizing the siege rescue food provisions.
Previous costumes: Your existing medieval costumes, characters, and throws are all still welcome, as the battalion still represents the people of the city of Orléans celebrating the victory.
Added theme: Medieval Feast: The medieval feast is a joyous concept that will be recognized by the crowd. Costumes, characters and throws related to medieval food and feasting are welcome, such as medieval dancers, jesters, jugglers or other performers, medieval tableware, tankards and goblets, etc.
Added theme: French food: In Joan’s day, France was already known for its wine, cheese and bread.
Relevent krewe-sold throws: Supporting these themes, Captain Amanda plans to offer cheese knives (metal with krewe logo on wood handle), metal ale cups, wood “trencher” medieval plates, and resin wine charm sets featuring wine, baguette, cheese, and croissant charms.
New signature throw: full-sized, real fresh French baguettes. We’re pretty sure the crowd will scream for these! Wrap individually in some kind of clear bag so recipients will know it’s sanitary. I know they are a little pricey and bulky, but a few will be high impact. You can dance with one for half a block and then give it out. We leave this suggestion in YOUR hands. If someone in Orléans wants to take charge of working with a bakery to place a group order, that would be super, but individual members can also make their own arrangements. Yes, small mini-baguettes are also welcome, but the traditional oversized baguettes are iconic symbols of France and will have a tremendous visual impact.
Suggestion: “Siege rescue food sponsored by Yolande”: Whether or not your throws are food-related, consider adding signage saying “Siege rescue food sponsored by Yolande” to your wagons and boxes. (idea pictures below)
New Prop(s): Feast Tables: We’re planning on at least one, maybe two, tall feast table props. These will roll parallel to the street down the middle of the street, with the table a little taller and narrower than a traditional banquet table but with very high candelabras, tiered serving trays and Orléans Victory Feast banners. The idea is that the feast tables will form a backdrop for YOU, the full members of Orléans, handing out your throws at the sides of the street. (sketch below)
Medieval music: Inside the feast table will be a speaker with a playlist mix of authentic medieval dance music and “bardcore” medieval covers of popular songs that capture the joy of victory and the relief of surviving to another day (such as “We are the champions”).
French Joan: Immediately following the Orléans battalion will be our delegation from the real city of Orléans, France, starring the young woman selected to portray Joan of Arc for their May 8 victory celebration. The Orléans young Joan contest, running since 1945, was the inspiration for our own young Joan contest. The red and green costume the French Joan wears for our parade is a replica of the historical records of the gown gifted by the city of Orléans to Joan to wear for the victory feast in her honor. She will be accompanied by an honor guard of Rotarians, since the New Orleans Rotary Foundation funds and coordinates the annual exchange of Joans. Our young Joan contest winner travels to Orléans, France, in the summer.
Other line-up changes: Now, the Knights battalion ahead of Orléans will represent specifically the battle of the siege of Orléans, and following the French Joan will be a new battalion, “Road to Reims,” representing the victorious battles that happened AFTER Joan’s first victory at Orléans. recapturing the Loire Valley and the towns on the way to Reims, so that Charles VII could be crowned in Reims in the tradition of French kings. These changes will move Orléans just ahead of the middle of the parade.
Ideas? Questions? Your Orléans Battalion lieutenant is

Chris Caravella, 504-390-3571, chris.caravella@cox.net