<P> Most of the locals who worked on the floats and rode on them were significantly affected by the storm's aftermath . Many had lost most or all of their possessions, but enthusiasm for Carnival was even more intense as an affirmation of life . The themes of many costumes and floats had more barbed satire than usual, with commentary on the trials and tribulations of living in the devastated city . References included MREs, Katrina refrigerators and FEMA trailers, along with much mocking of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local and national politicians . </P> <P> By the 2009 season, the Endymion parade had returned to the Mid-City route, and other Krewes expanding their parades Uptown . </P> <P> The colors traditionally associated with Mardi Gras in New Orleans are green, gold, and purple . The colors were first specified in proclamations by the Rex organization during the lead - up to their inaugural parade in 1872, suggesting that balconies be draped in banners of these colors . It is unknown why these specific colors were chosen; some accounts suggest that they were initially selected solely on their aesthetic appeal, as opposed to any true symbolism . </P> <P> Errol Laborde, author of Marched the Day God: A History of the Rex Organization, presented a theory that the colors were based on heraldry; all three colors fall within those of tincture, and that if Rex's goal were to create a tricolor to represent their "kingdom", purple was widely associated with royalty, while white was already heavily used on other national flags, and was thus avoided . Furthermore, he noted that a flag in green, gold and purple in that order complies with the rule of tincture, which states that metals (gold or silver) can only be placed on or next to other colors, and that colors cannot be placed on or next to other colors . </P>

What are the traditional colors of mardi gras