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Learn about the history and customs of Mardi Gras, the famous carnival in New Orleans, from krewes and colors to king cakes and flambeaux. Discover the distinctive features and quirks of this colorful festival that attracts millions of visitors every year. Learn about the origins, customs and celebrations of Mardi Gras, a Christian holiday and cultural phenomenon that dates back to pagan spring and fertility rites. Find out how Mardi Gras is observed in different countries and regions, especially in New Orleans, Brazil and Venice. The Mardi Gras tradition of throwing beads is thought to have started in the 1890s when one of the carnival kings threw strings of beads and fake jewels to his “loyal subjects” on the route 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. Learn about the origins and customs of Mardi Gras, the biggest holiday in New Orleans. Find out how to dress, what to eat, and what to expect from the parades and celebrations. From high-energy parades to colorful beads and masks, there are dozens of traditions involved in Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday. The holiday which is less than a week away, is just ahead of 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] Explore the cultural roots and meanings of Mardi Gras traditions, from king cakes to flambeaux, in New Orleans. Learn about the origins, stories and events of Carnival season, from Twelfth Night to Mardi Gras Day. The masquerade is an enduring tradition of the Mardi Gras festivities as an opportunity for people to shed their inhibitions and fully imbibe in the party-spirit. A New Orleans city ordinance From the past to the present, Mardi Gras is full of traditions. Mardi Gras balls began in the 1700s and still exist today. At the Twelfth Night ball, a king cake was cut, and whoever found the bean (a precursor to today’s baby) inside would host the next ball. This would continue until Mardi Gras evening. The all-male krewe has been staging Mardi Gras events in New Orleans since 1872 and are the ones who started the tradition of using the holiday’s famous colors: yellow, purple, and green. The customs and traditions of Mardi Gras comprise a cultural repertoire, whereby different themes, rituals and symbols are cobbled together, recycled and reinterpreted. Mardi Gras Trivia Test your knowledge of Mardi Gras — a civic ritual with a storied history and innumerable facets and traditions. Mardi Gras Means “Fat Tuesday” – The name comes from the French tradition of eating rich, fatty foods before the fasting season of Lent. The First Mardi Gras in America Was in Mobile, Alabama – Established in 1703, Mobile’s celebrations predate New Orleans’ by more than a decade. 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 traditions of gay Mardi Gras officially began with the Krewe of Yuga’s first Mardi Gras drag ball, in February 1958. In 1962, the event was held at a rented school cafeteria in conservative Jefferson Parish — and raided by the police. Mardi Gras Traditions. Mardi Gras is known for its unique and lively traditions. From parades to masks, these customs add to the excitement of the celebration. The tradition of wearing masks during Mardi Gras allows people to escape societal constraints and fully participate in the festivities. In 1699, French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville arrived at a plot of ground 60 miles south of New Orleans and named it “Pointe du Mardi Gras,” recognizing the eve of the festive holiday. Over the following decades, the traditions of Mardi Gras were further shaped by the influences of French and Spanish settlers. Forget the grand marshal—each year the Rex Organization chooses a King of Carnival for their parade. Other krewes also choose kings, but Rex is considered the Carnival king because of the organization's long history in shaping Mardi Gras traditions. On the day of Mardi Gras, the mayor of New Orleans traditionally hands the key to the city to Rex. 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. The very first American Mardi Gras celebration took place in March 1699 after two French settlers landed near present-day New Orleans and brought their traditions with them. The French colonists who followed over the proceeding decades introduced the "Galette des Rois," or king cake, which is how it became a New Orleanian symbol.
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Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
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