The St. Joan of Arc Parade, Gender, and Pride of Place

This chapter explores the history of the Joan of Arc parade, a women’s enterprise that celebrates the birthday of the famous saint, which happens to fall upon January 6th, Twelfth Night, the traditional commencement of the Carnival season. The parade runs through the French Quarter, concluding at the gilded Joan of Arc statue on Decatur Street (Joanie on a pony). The chapter looks at the feminist aspect of the group, which celebrates this female icon, a woman who spoke truth to power and actively fought against it. The parade also is significant for drawing upon European history in a way that underscores the French heritage of the city.