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Mardi Gras is a Christian holiday and popular cultural phenomenon that dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites. Also known as Carnival or Carnaval, it’s celebrated in The first year that Mardi Gras was celebrated on a grand scale in Galveston was 1871 with the emergence of two rival Mardi Gras societies, or "Krewes" called the Knights of Momus (known only by the initials "K.O.M.") and the Knights of Myth, both of which devised night parades, masked balls, exquisite costumes and elaborate invitations. Why does New Orleans celebrate Mardi Gras? Although it is a Christian holiday now, Mardi Gras is a holiday that dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites, according to the 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. Though Mardi Gras is technically a religious holiday, its modern celebrations often emphasize the fun, festive, and communal aspects of the occasion, featuring parades, costumes, music, and a general sense of revelry. While Mardi Gras is celebrated in various forms around the world, it is perhaps most famously associated with New Orleans 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 The History & Traditions of Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras has been celebrated in Louisiana since the 18th century, brought by French settlers. Today’s traditions stem from European carnival customs mixed with local culture, creating a uniquely New Orleans spectacle. While Mardi Gras is celebrated around the world, few places are more synonymous with the holiday than New Orleans. The city has been celebrating Mardi Gras since the 18th Century, when the Why is Mardi Gras celebrated? Mardi Gras is celebrated in many countries around the world, though mainly in places with large Roman Catholic populations. It's believed that Mardi Gras emerged from the wild ancient Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia. These pagan celebrations involved days of feasting, masquerading, dancing, and drinking. This year, Mardi Gras will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 in the United States. How is the date of Mardi Gras determined each year? Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday,” does not fall on the same day every year, but it is always the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Mardi Gras is the last and "biggest day of celebration," according to Mardi Gras New Orleans. What are some other names for Mardi Gras? Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, the end of Carnival. Click on the Mardi Gras krewes below for further information about the krewe and to see their usual route for each parade. Please note: Events and activities are subject to change without notice. Stay tuned to the site for further info. Click on the Mardi Gras krewes below for further information about the krewe and to see their usual route for each parade. Please note: Events and activities are subject to change without notice. Stay tuned to the site for further info. The Mardi Gras Celebration will open with food and specialty vendors and children’s activities at 11:00 a.m. There will be two vendor areas again this year so people will have plenty of food, arts and crafts and other specialty items to enjoy before the parade. The Mardi Gras Parade will roll out at 2:00 p.m. from Court Street. When Is Mardi Gras Celebrated? Mardi Gras is always celebrated on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, exactly 47 days before Easter. Since Easter Sunday changes each year (falling between March 22 and April 25), Mardi Gras also moves within a range of February 3 to March 9. • In 2025, Mardi Gras will fall on Tuesday, March 4. The 507 Mardi Gras Party is open to all ages with free entry to the first 100 guests and anyone 12 years old or younger. After that, $10 per person. There’s a cash bar –or get the unlimited Mardi Gras drink package! Details and tickets here The mile-long Mardi Gras Parade at The Wharf is the largest in the District. Photo: Courtesy The Wharf 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 Mardi Gras may be an ancient celebration but there's always something new to discover. As the krewes announce their 2025 themes, throws and celebrity monarchs and riders, we'll post that information here Mardi Gras in Germany is celebrated by the Rhenish Carnival in western cities like Düsseldorf, Mainz, and Cologne. Another Carnival is the Fastnacht, celebrated by the Swabian and Alemannic people in the Baden-Württemberg region. Unique Mardi Gras customs are celebrated through famous dishes. Gumbo, a seafood stew, is a Creole cooking staple. Gumbo, a seafood stew, is a Creole cooking staple. Jambalaya, with its mix of rice, meats, and veggies, tells a story of cultural blend.
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