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 Les Gilles de Binche celebrating Mardi Gras in Binche, Belgium. Mark Renders/Stringer/Getty Images 4. Binche, Belgium. Celebrated south of Brussels in Belgium’s Hainaut province from March 2-4, the Carnival of Binche centers on the area’s unique folklore. You may have seen its concluding March of the Gilles, which takes place on Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is an extravagant and vibrant carnival celebrated in various countries around the world. When it comes to Mardi Gras celebrations in North America , one cannot ignore the grandeur and rich traditions of New Orleans. What is Mardi Gras? What does Mardi Gras Celebrate? Mardi Gras is the period of celebration before the somber, fasting period of Lent begins for many Christians. The length of the celebrations varies from country to country. But, traditionally, the French celebrated Mardi Gras from the feast of the Epiphany (when the Three Kings visited the In rural Cajun areas, Mardi Gras is celebrated the way other places celebrate Halloween, with costumed disguises and going from house to house begging for treats. Mardi Gras is a World-wide Celebration. While New Orleans' Mardi Gras is one of the most famous Carnival celebrations in the world, it's certainly not the only one. The holiday doesn't belong to just one single place and that is reflected in the many different festivities that are found in other cities and countries all over Earth. Mardi Gras is a Christian holiday and popular cultural phenomenon that dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites. it’s celebrated in many countries around the world Latin American Mardi Gras Celebrations. If you celebrate Mardi Gras back home, you know this holiday is full of flashy costumes, savory foods, live music, and all the dancing you can imagine! Like in New Orleans and Venice; Latin American Mardi Gras celebrations also go above and beyond in being memorable to those who attend. The main highlight of Mardi Gras is the iconic parade along Oxford and Flinders Streets which features more than 8000 participants with brightly elaborate costumes and floats, but in total there are around 60 events over the duration of the festival, which actually runs for around three weeks and culminates with the parade on the first Saturday The mother of all Mardi Gras, New Orleans is a city that has become synonymous with its epic annual carnival. A tradition originally begun in Mobile by French settlers over 300 years ago, the main Mardi Gras festival moved to New Orleans (though it’s still celebrated in Mobile) when it became Louisiana’s capital in 1723. 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 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. In the early 18th century, New Orleanians celebrated Mardi Gras with masked balls and parades, but the Spanish occupation of the city led to a multi-decade lull in the festivities. Mardi Gras, also known as Carnival, is an exciting time of festivities and revelry that is celebrated in many Caribbean countries, and Jamaica is no exception. During this vibrant season, the streets of Jamaica come alive with colorful parades, lively music, and energetic dancing. Mardi Gras is celebrated all around the world and each country celebrates in their own tradition. Rio de Janeiro has one of the biggest celebrations in the world. The Rio Carnaval begins by “Le soir de Mardi gras, il faut danser sur les fumiers pour avoir des navets.” (On Mardi Gras night, you must dance on the manure to get turnips..) “Mardi gras sous la pluie, l’hiver s’enfuit.” (Mardi Gras is in the rain; winter is running away.) “Quand Mardi gras est là alors enlevez vos balances et faites vos crêpes.” 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 Mardi Gras' origins can be traced back to France and Italy, but today, New Orleans is the largest and most famous place for the event. Do other countries celebrate Mardi Gras? Whether you celebrate Mardi Gras for its connection to Christian traditions, its cultural significance, or simply for the fun and revelry, it remains an enduring and beloved festival. In places like New Orleans, Mardi Gras has become a symbol of the city’s identity, representing unity, diversity, and the joy of living life to the fullest. As Mardi Gras' origins can be traced back to France and Italy, but today, New Orleans is the largest and most famous place for the event. Do other countries celebrate Mardi Gras?
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