Maids of Jubilee Mardi Gras Parade

The Maids of Jubilee, in Fairhope, was the first ladies parading group to form in the Eastern Shore region of South Alabama.

Since the organization's founding in 1985, it has grown immensely, boasting more than 400 members these days. In most ladies' groups - at least in Mobile - there are male marshals on horseback or no marshals at all. The Maids of Jubilee, however, has female marshals on horseback. Or on a camel.

In south Alabama, by the way, "jubilee" does not mean "a special anniversary." No, around here, a jubilee is an infrequent phenomenon that occurs when the waters and the winds are just right, and all the fish in the shallows are rendered almost comatose. Word gets out quickly, and folks come and simply scoop up all the fish they want.