New Orleans Mardi Gras Day traditionally ends with the Meeting of the Courts between Rex and Comus.
Rex is the ceremonial King of Carnival, while Comus is the ruler of the Mistick Krewe of Comus, New Orleans’ oldest modern Carnival organization. The two courts meet at the Comus ball, creating a formal closing ritual for the season.
The tradition began in 1882, when Rex and his queen paid a ceremonial visit to Comus. Although Rex holds the public title of King of Carnival, the receiving role of Comus reflects the krewe’s seniority and historic prestige. Comus staged its first parade in 1857, fifteen years before Rex was founded.
A common mix-up is choosing another famous krewe, such as Bacchus, Endymion, or Proteus. Those organizations are important parts of New Orleans Carnival, but none is the partner in this traditional Meeting of the Courts. Comus stopped parading after a 1991 membership-disclosure dispute, yet its ball and the court-meeting tradition continued.