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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. It's most famously celebrated with parades in New Orleans 1. Mobile Is The Birthplace Of Mardi Gras. First things first: The beloved tradition was actually born in Mobile, Alabama, though many associate it with New Orleans. Mobile first celebrated Mardi Gras in 1703, with the party really heating up in 1831. Mardi Gras is still a huge event in Mobile, with dozens of balls and parades every year. 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 History of New Orleans Mardi Gras . Although the date of the first organized celebration of Mardi Gras in New Orleans is debatable, the 1730 account of one Marc-Antoine Caillot (a young clerk sent to Louisiana by the French Company of the Indies) mentions a celebration with music and dance, mask-wearing and costumes—including cross-dressing. The seven symbols for Mardi Gras are king cakes, Mardi Gras masks, parades, Mardi Gras throws, the fleur de lis, Mardi Gras beads, and the official colors of Mardi Gras. Head to our Mardi Gras symbols guide for an in depth look at the history and meanings behind the symbols of Mardi Gras . On March 2, 1699, French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville arrived at a plot of ground 60 miles directly south of New Orleans, and named it "Pointe du Mardi Gras" when his men realized it was the eve of the festive holiday. Bienville also established "Fort Louis de la Louisiane" (which is now Mobile) in 1702. What does Mardi Gras mean? Translated to English, "Mardi Gras" means "Fat Tuesday." Mardi is the French word for Tuesday, and gras means "fat." This name comes from the custom of eating all the fatty, rich foods in the house prior to Lent in order to prepare for fasting and abstinence. So, Fat Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Since its first impromptu celebrations in the early 1700's, Mardi Gras was regularly cancelled or banned for its destructive drunken parties—that is until 1837, when a secret society known as Fun Facts About Mardi Gras. It’s a Legal Holiday in Louisiana: While Mardi Gras is celebrated worldwide, it’s an official state holiday in Louisiana, where schools and businesses often close for the festivities. King Cake Tradition: King Cake, a sweet pastry decorated in Mardi Gras colors, contains a hidden plastic baby. Whoever finds the Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, has a rich history dating back thousands of years and is celebrated in various forms across the globe, from New Orleans to Venice. Mardi Gras brings communities together, boosts local economies, and showcases vibrant traditions, from colorful parades to unique krewe customs, making it a truly special and 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 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 Mardi Gras masks are more than just festive accessories—they carry a rich history and cultural significance. Every detail, Mardi Gras color and design tells a story, and the artists who craft Mardi Gras is more than just a day of parades and parties; it is a deep-rooted tradition with a fascinating history and unique customs. From King Cakes to krewes and colorful beads, this celebration continues to captivate people worldwide. Mardi Gras Origin: The very first Mardi Gras was celebrated in 1703 in Mobile, Alabama. Mardi Gras New Orleans isn’t the only Mardi Gras. It is celebrated all across Southern Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida, Galveston, Texas and has spread throughout the U.S. and world! (Carnivale is celebrated in other countries on the same day!) The roots of modern Mardi Gras can be found as far-removed as Medieval Europe. A common celebration called Boeuf Gras, or Fatted Calf, marked the beginning of Lent and a meat-free diet in 17th The history of Mardi Gras has always been associated with a day of celebrations. The day was formally made a holiday in 1875 when the Mardi Gras Act was signed into law by Governor Warmoth. Louisiana locals may think nothing of it, but being able to celebrate Mardi Gras as a legitimate holiday is a unique privilege. Although many people associate it just with New Orleans, there are Mardi Gras celebrations all over the world. What most people don’t know is that the U.S. celebration of Mardi Gras began in Mobile, Alabama. Tuesday, March 4, 2014 is Fat Tuesday the start of the Mardi Gras season. According to the U.S. Library of Congress, the [] Brian Costello, author of Carnival in Louisiana: Celebrating Mardi Gras from the French Quarter to the Red River, writes, "The Carnival season and Mardi Gras day trace their roots from the Bacchanalia and Saturnalia ritual promiscuity of Roman times. With the spread of Christianity, similar revelry occurred during the period of carnival (Latin
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