20 collector packs of the complete set of 2018 playing cards SOLD OUT
Included free with full membership, krewe members will receive one keepsake souvenir pack with one of each of this year’s playing cards. The 2018 set will include the Flaming Heretic, King, Queen, Bastard, Gates of Orléans, Fool/Jester, Saint Margaret, Joanie on the Pony, Isabelle Romée, Cannoneer John, Saint Michael and the overview card from previous years, and will add the new 10th anniversary playing card. More may be added if custom cards are purchased. The tradition of portraying cards with faces dates from King Charles VII’s court in 1400s France, and many of the first face cards represented specific characters from his court, such as Charles VII, Joan as the Queen of Spades, and La Hire as the Jack of Hearts. Designed to mimic real playing cards — standard playing card size with rounded corners, and a double-ended image so the card always looks right side up (except the Joker). The reverse side has our name, logo, and the year, and a short history of the character. One of the purposes of the playing cards is to help the crowd learn to recognize our characters and symbolism, so most of these cards will be distributed by the characters themselves. The Orléans battalion hands out the Gates of Orléans cards; the birthday battalion hands out the Fool cards; and the Knights battalion will hand out the Cannoneer John cards.
Krewe members from any battalion may purchase sets of 20 complete “packs” each containing one of each playing card to hand out on the route as a set. Limit one set per member, limit 10 sets to be sold. Each pack in a fitted cello envelope.
Krewe members portraying specific characters in the parade have the option to purchase custom playing cards for your character. DEADLINE Nov. 1! The price includes Amanda’s design time to create a new card for your character, your character’s card included in the souvenir sets, and 300 playing cards for you to hand out, subject to leadership approval. See our Characters Wanted list for ideas for characters. The last card shown at left is an example of a custom character card.