Gallery
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States often include parades, carnival masks, and decorations in purple, green, and gold. Cities that celebrate Mardi Gras go all out for the holiday, draping beaded necklaces from trees and lampposts and blocking off streets for parades. Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama, is the oldest Carnival celebration in the U.S.—even older than the one in New Orleans. The first known Mardi Gras celebration in the United States took place in this coastal Alabama town in 1703, and the town prides itself on being the birthplace of the American Mardi Gras tradition. Here are four other U.S. cities that celebrate Mardi Gras in style. Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama. Enjoy the spectacle of a nighttime parade in Mobile, Alabama — Photo courtesy of Visit Mobile. Home of the first Mardi Gras celebration in America, Mobile proudly continues to honor long established traditions with parties, masked balls, and Mardi Gras, a festival that came to the United States as a French Catholic tradition, is celebrated on March 1 this year. Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday,” reflecting the practice of The largest and most famous Mardi Gras celebration in the USA is in New Orleans, where Fat Tuesday is a legal holiday. NOLA has been celebrating Mardi Gras since the early 18th century and the (Flickr user Dave Herholz). Outside of New Orleans, St. Louis claims to host the United State's largest Mardi Gras party. Founded by the French some 250 years ago, the Soulard district—a In 1703, French settlers in that city began to celebrate the Mardi Gras tradition. [3] [6] [7] By 1720, Biloxi was made the capital of Louisiana. While it had French settlers, Mardi Gras and other customs were celebrated with more fanfare given its new status. [3] In 1723, the capital of French Louisiana was moved to New Orleans, founded in New Orleans made Mardi Gras famous, but it's not the only place where carnival is celebrated. In the U.S., cities like Mobile, Alabama and Galveston, Texas have their own traditions. Numerous countries with a Christian heritage also host pre-Lenten festivals. Belgium With the popularity of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras, it’s no surprise that other Gulf Coast states have enacted their own versions of this iconic event. Galveston is the setting for Texas’ largest Mardi Gras celebration , with thousands traveling to take part in the colorful Funky Uptown Umbrella Brigade, which gathers revelers to dance the This year, the theme park will celebrate Mardi Gras for two months, from Feb. 1 to March 30. During that time, you can enjoy a nightly Mardi Gras parade, New Orleans jazz bands strolling the park, and concerts on most Friday and Saturday nights. All of these are included in the cost of your ticket. However, elaborate carnival festivities draw crowds in other parts of the United States during the Mardi Gras season as well, including Alabama and Mississippi. Each region has its own events and Why Do We Celebrate Mardi Gras? The celebration of Mardi Gras has evolved over the centuries, but at its core, it remains a celebration of life, community, and indulgence . Originally rooted in religious traditions, Mardi Gras serves as a final opportunity to enjoy rich foods, drink, and revelry before the fasting and solemnity of Lent. Mardi Gras' origins can be traced back to France and Italy, but today, New Orleans is the largest and most famous place for the event. Do other countries celebrate Mardi Gras? The first Mardi Gras celebration in America was celebrated in 1703 in the settlement of Fort Louis de la Mobile. Mardi Gras was celebrated soon after the city of New Orleans was founded in 1718 Mardi Gras' origins can be traced back to France and Italy, but today, New Orleans is the largest and most famous place for the event. Do other countries celebrate Mardi Gras? Mardi Gras is a festive day celebrated in France on Shrove Tuesday (the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday), which marks the close of the pre-Lenten season. The French name Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday, from the custom of using all the fats in the home before Lent. Mardi Gras is not just for humans; New Orleans hosts a "Krewe of Barkus" parade, where dogs don costumes and join the fun. The largest Mardi Gras float ever built was over 330 feet long and carried more than 200 riders. Mardi Gras in Popular Culture. Mardi Gras has made its mark in popular culture, appearing in movies, music, and literature. While the dates and exact celebrations of Carnival vary by location, the United States celebrates Mardi Gras beginning 10 days before Shrove Tuesday, also called “Pancake Tuesday” or Mardi Gras' origins can be traced back to France and Italy, but today, New Orleans is the largest and most famous place for the event. Do other countries celebrate Mardi Gras? One of the most famous celebrations of Mardi Gras is in the United States, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mardi Gras is celebrated the way other places celebrate Halloween, with costumed disguises
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |