What is a "Second Line"

I have heard this term "second line" in New Orleans often.  When I first heard it I was confused.  I surmised that it was part of a parade.  But why was it second instead of first?  Then I heard it referred to as if it was a dance..."hey y'all let's see you do yah second line".  Well guess what? It's both and it has a long history in New Orleans.  It evolved from the "Jazz Funeral" where a parade of musicians would play a "dirge" along with the Hearst bringing the body to be buried.  The mourners would follow and on the way back there would be a celebration with the band playing upbeat danceable jazz music. The celebration is for the deceased who has now been released from the trials and tribulations of this earth to a much better place.  The second line is the line formed behind the main line of musicians and hearst.  
The second line is also used in parades of Social Aid and Pleasure clubs.  These clubs were formed to actually assist its members and help pay for funerals.  Most of these S&P clubs were originally African American and at one time were barred from marching in the French Quarter.  The main line consisted of the part of the parade that had a permit to march which was basically the S&P club.  The people following them were in the second line and not part of the main line.
The routes of these parades never followed main streets but would wind through neighborhoods visiting bars for periods of rest.



The second line is also a dance.  It goes like this:   You put your hand up with a parasol or if not, a hankerchief and you wave it in a circular motion while gyrating your hips and moving side to side.  It sounds hard to do but once you feel the groove of the music it comes naturally.  Of course, your really should have some sense of rhythm.