What are you doing to ring in the New Year? In Livingston, Alabama, the New Year’s Eve holiday promises to be a “dud.”

However, this dud is one of the highlights of the year for the small southern town that is home to the University of West Alabama.

Each year on Dec. 31, Livingston hosts the D.U.D. Parade through downtown. For the parade, participants dress in elaborate costumes, wear masks and walk down Livingston’s central streets.

According to the City of Livingston’s website, the D.U.D. Parade started in 1857 by Colonel T.B. Wetmore, Ben B. Little and John McDaniel. Though it is not recorded, the tradition was believed to have been carried over from England and Scotland.

In the early days of the parade, masked parade-goers called themselves the “Indomitables.” The Indomitables marched at night, while there was a parade on horseback during the day. Starting in the late 1800’s, the masked individuals came to be called “Damned Ugly Devils,” hence, the D.U.D. Parade.

The custom nearly died out during the Civil War, but it was revived and has continued through today.

To learn more about local culture surrounding the University of West Alabama, continue to follow the UWA Online Blog! Even if you are an online student from afar, you still have ties to the tradition and triumphs associated with the University!

To learn more about UWA Online and the programs available, call 205-652-5110, or visit https://uwa.augusoft.net/! #DUDParade #NewYearsEve #LivingstonAL #Tradition #ContinuingEducation #UWAOnline #UniversityOfWestAlabama