The name Mardi Gras comes from the French words “mardi” (Tuesday) and “gras” (Fat). The concept of “Fat Tuesday” refers to the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. The 40 days of Lent that follow are meant to be a period of penance and fasting that culminate on Easter Sunday. The oldest and biggest carnaval in Cuba, Santiago de Cuba’s festival is compared to Rio de Janeiro’s in Brazil and Mardi Gras’ in New Orleans. The festivities usually take place in late July, starting Monday the 24th to Wednesday the 26th to coincide with St. James the Apostle’s Day but continue celebrating until the end of the month. Information on Rio de Janeiro Carnival 2025 — official events, carnival dates, blocos, samba schools, parade ticket packages to the Sambadrome and guide. While it’s tempting to think of Carnival as South America’s version of Mardi Gras, the celebration is more like the World Cup, New Year’s, and the 4th of July all rolled into one! Dozens of countries around the world celebrate Carnival, but it’s in Latin America where they explode in a spectacle of color and texture so vivid that they Mardi Gras arrived in North America as a French Catholic tradition with the Le Moyne brothers, [31] Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, in the late 17th century, when King Louis XIV sent the pair to defend France's claim on the territory of Louisiane, which included what are now the U.S. states of Alabama 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 Across Brazil, Mardi Gras is celebrated with street parties, organised by Blocos – groups of people who undertake the task of planning the street party in their area. Each Bloco will write a song to be sung on the day along with samba music, and trucks fitted with special equipment, speakers and a stage for bands to perform on, bringing live São Paulo city is the capital of São Paulo State, located in south-eastern Brazil. It is the largest city in in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the largest in the world. The city lies about 350 km (220 miles) southwest of Rio de Janeiro and about 50 km inland (30 miles) from its Atlantic Ocean port of Santos. While one of the most famous Mardi Gras celebrations is in New Orleans, Louisiana, the holiday is celebrated across the globe, from North America, to South America, Europe and Asia. Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is an annual celebration that originated in European countries and eventually spread to the Caribbean. The history of Mardi Gras can be traced back to the medieval period, where it began as a religious observance marking the beginning of Lent. The result was the uninterrupted celebration of carnival festivals in Barranquilla (Barranquilla's Carnival), and other villages along the lower Magdalena River in northern Colombia, and in Pasto, Nariño (Blacks and Whites' Carnival) in the south of the country. In modern times, there have been attempts to introduce the carnival in the capital While one of the most famous Mardi Gras celebrations is in New Orleans, Louisiana, the holiday is celebrated across the globe, from North America, to South America, Europe and Asia. Call us at 866-209-8078. Carnival in Latin America is as rich and varied as the countries that celebrate it. Get ready to learn about a parade. Most people are familiar with Carnival from world-famous festivities such as the street parades of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, masquerade balls in Venice, and the samba floats of Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, where it has achieved fame as the world’s biggest party. Stay up to date with our latest blogs about volunteering around Africa. Updates about projects, latest news, Country posts and more Barranquilla is South America’s ‘other’ carnival – so party in Colombia Like Mardi Gras, Barranquilla’s events include characters that bring viewers into a fantasy world, while Some point to 1699 as year the first American Mardi Gras was held, when French explorers Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Sieur de Bienville landed about 60 miles south of present-day New Orleans Money, Mardi Gras, and Something Far Better Stories from South America Episode 1319. March 20, 2019. Close. John Piper @JohnPiper. John 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 The three statements that support South America as a single cultural region are the celebration of Mardi Gras traditions across several countries, the practice of Roman Catholicism in countries like Chile and Argentina, and the predominance of Spanish in most Latin American countries.
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