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Every year, as winter fades and spring approaches, the streets of New Orleans explode with color, music, and celebration. Mardi Gras, the grandest festival in Louisiana, is famous for its parades, beads, masked revelers, and deep cultural traditions. But how did this extravagant celebration come to be? Mardi Gras is traditionally celebrated on “Fat Tuesday,” the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. In many areas, however, Mardi Gras has evolved into a week-long festival. Mardi Bienville also established "Fort Louis de la Louisiane" (which is now Mobile) in 1702. In 1703, the tiny settlement of Fort Louis de la Mobile celebrated America's very first Mardi Gras. In 1704, Mobile established a secret society (Masque de la Mobile), similar to those that form our current Mardi Gras krewes. It lasted until 1709. Mardi Gras is believed to have arrived in North America on March 3, 1699, when the French-Canadian explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville camped about 60 miles downriver from the future site of New Orleans. Knowing it was Fat Tuesday back in France, Iberville named the spot Point du Mardi Gras and held a small gala. The first record of Mardi Gras being celebrated in Louisiana was at the mouth of the Mississippi River in what is now lower Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, on March 2, 1699. Iberville, Bienville, and their men celebrated it as part of an observance of Catholic practice. The date of the first celebration of the festivities in New Orleans is unknown. Mardi Gras (UK: / ˌ m ɑːr d i ˈ ɡ r ɑː /, US: / ˈ m ɑːr d i ɡ r ɑː /; [1] [2] also known as Shrove Tuesday) is the final day of Carnival (also known as Shrovetide or Fastelavn); it thus falls on the day before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. [3] Differences get bigger. In Mardi Gras' early days in Louisiana, the differences in the city and rural towns weren't so stark. Between 1700 and 1800s, most celebrations in New Orleans were just On the Tuesday before the beginning of the Christian religious observance of Lent, people in the southern U.S. city of New Orleans celebrate Mardi Gras with parties, music and parades. Mardi Gras is so much more special when you understand what you’re celebrating and what each tradition means to the generations of parade-goers who have stood on parade routes before you. There is a story and a purpose behind everything you’ll experience during Carnival Time – from the king cake you’ll eat to the flambeaux who light 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. The Mardi Gras traditions show off New Orleans’ rich culture. Get ready to be wowed by the creativity and passion that make this celebration so special! The Rich History Behind Mardi Gras Celebrations. The history of Mardi Gras is a captivating story that spans centuries and continents. It started as a simple feast before Lent in medieval Europe. Orpheus (Monday before Mardi Gras): Known for creative floats and sought-after throws like four-foot stuffed dragons and custom-decorated tambourines. Zulu (Mardi Gras Day): Beloved for its unique throws, including the iconic hand-decorated coconuts. Rex (Mardi Gras Day): One of the oldest and most traditional parades, featuring a regal Come and enjoy Vernon Parish, Louisiana's Legend Country. Come catch parade throws and a great time at the Mardi Gras Parade, held the Saturday before Fat Tuesday at 2pm. Saturday Mar 1, 2025 to Saturday Mar 1, 2025 First-timers tend to gravitate towards Bourbon and Canal Street, but if you want to be where the locals are (and trust me, you probably do) head Uptown. It’s just as festive but often much more tame and family-friendly. Most parades in Uptown stroll down St. Charles Avenue, so try to find a spot La Riviére Children’s Mardi Gras Parade & Chicken Chase. Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. Krotz Springs. Lebeau Mardi Gras Festival & Parade. Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. Lebeau. Sunset Kidz Wagon Parade. Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. Sunset. Eunice Lil’ Mardi Gras. March 1 at 3 p.m. Eunice. Opelousas Imperial Mardi Gras Parade. March 4 at 11 a.m. Opelousas. Courir de Mardi Mardi Gras is always a spectacular event in New Orleans, but Mardi Gras 2025 is set to be the most exciting one yet. With brand-new parade themes, more immersive experiences, and a renewed spirit in the city, this year’s celebration will be one for the history books. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned Mardi Gras reveler, here’s everything you need to know to make the most Head out to Cankton located just south of Sunset for a rural Mardi Gras celebration you’re sure to enjoy. Held on the Saturday before Mardi Gras itself, this event will feature live music, a gumbo cook-off, a chicken run, and a trail ride. Tickets start at $10 for each event (tickets are needed for each event) and gumbo cook-off teams are $60. All proceeds benefit the Louisiana Special Olympics. This one that says let’s celebrate with traditional Mardi Gras colors is super cute. I also love this watercolor digital invite. 3. Make your menu. Mardi Gras is a big deal in South Louisiana, so Cajun and Creole fare is typical! To me, making the menu is the easiest way to capture that Louisiana flair for your Mardi Gras celebration. The magic of Mardi Gras comes alive every year in a parish known as Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou. Thirty-five miles south of New Orleans, in Lafourche Parish, locals and visitors come From February 22 nd until Mardi Gras Day, there will be parades every weekend, with a total of 14 krewes taking to the streets during the Mardi Gras season. “The parades in Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou capture all the pomp and circumstance that you would find in larger cities, like New Orleans, while taking a family-friendly approach that is inviting to parade-goers of all ages.
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Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
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