Symbol of excess, debauchery, lecherousness.
The annual Easter parade in New York City dates back to the 1800s. On Easter Sunday, people would attend to church and then parade through the city in their finest apparel. People who didn’t have a lot of money would queue up to watch the parade. The Dionysus Festival was held in ancient Greece in March. A procession was held in Athens. People gathered a colossal statue of Dionysus, waving phalluses, as it was carried into the city. A night of alcohol and lechery was followed by another parade the next morning. This was the war orphans’ procession. Their parents had given their life for Athens, therefore they were honored. Playwrights staged plays at the conclusion of the march. The playwrights fought for the title of festival winner. The festival lasted seven days and included plenty of alcohol and revelry. The winner would be proclaimed at the festival’s conclusion, and everyone would return home.