A Royal Tradition

The Order of Mithras celebrates 90 years with the crowning of its court and at a party fit for its queen at Mary Mahoney’s Old French House.

- Amy Reid Felder

The city of Biloxi boasts a rich history with an unfettered support of the arts and cultural heritage. It is home to Mary Mahoney’s Old French House, the most quaint and well-known fine dining establishment on the Gulf Coast. The Old French House was built in 1737, predating American independence by more than three decades. Considerable efforts have been expended to preserve the landmark’s original character and charm since Mary Mahoney and her family acquired it in 1962. It is, therefore, the perfect setting for the annual Mithras Mardi Gras Queen’s Luncheon, an integral part of the Coast’s cultural heritage. The event, which celebrated its 90th year on February 23, 2017, honors the current and past queens of the Order of Mithras Mardi Gras Carnival Association’s masked balls. The Order of Mithras was organized in Biloxi in 1924 and is the oldest among hundreds of men’s carnival organizations on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Mithras has held masked balls each year since its inception, with the exception of the years 1943-1945 (during World War II) and 2006 (after Hurricane Katrina).