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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 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] By the time Pope Gregory XIII made Mardi Gras an official Christian holiday in 1582, it little resembled Lupercalia of antiquity—except, perhaps, in those countries that had retained the orgiastic elements in defiance of the Church. As it turns out, many of those elements found their way to America. Mardi Gras comes to a close on Tuesday night, and soon, those who celebrate will exclaim “Laissez les bons temps rouler,” or “Let the good times roll” for the last time this Carnival season. Mardi Gras came to New Orleans through its French heritage in 1699. Early explorers celebrated this French Holiday on the banks of the Mississippi River. Throughout the years, Orleanians have added to the celebration by establishing krewes (organizations) which host parades and balls. By the mid 1820s, Mardi Gras was firmly rooted in the New Orleans culture. Today, the city’s celebrations are considered one of America’s biggest parties, with towns and cities throughout the Gulf Coast Region getting in on the fun. 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. 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. Now, Mardi Gras always falls on the Tuesday before Lent, but Three Kings' Day (January 6), is both the official end of Christmas and the first day of the Carnival season. The origin of king cakes and the funny baby tradition can also be traced to Saturnalia. And in 1872, Rex, the king of Mardi Gras made his debut. Today, hundreds of Mardi Gras clubs (krewes) host grand balls and dozens of parade. Balls and Parades . Mardi Gras balls are opulent affairs with kings, queens, royal courts, and an abundance of pomp and pageantry. The City of New Orleans announced on Tuesday, Feb. 25, that trash and recycling collection will not happen during the Mardi Gras holiday. Mardi Gras Party Planning MADE EASY. Mardi Gras is a fun celebration with parades, costumes, music, and yummy food! It’s the perfect chance to enjoy spicy dishes, sweet treats like King Cake, and have a great time with friends. A Mardi Gras menu made for you means no stress over what to cook—just more time to enjoy the party! Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more holiday tips, fun facts, humor, cleaning, travel and tech all week long. After Mardi Gras made its way to the United States, masked balls A rider hands out a coconut as the over 1,100 riders of the Krewe of Zulu make their way down St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras Day with their 44-float parade entitled "Celebrations and Libations In places like New Orleans, Mardi Gras is not just a holiday; it is a celebration of the city’s unique cultural heritage. New Orleans has long been a melting pot of different cultures, including French, Spanish, African, and Creole influences. Mardi Gras reflects this diversity through its music, food, art, and traditions. Cajun Jambalaya at Grace by Nia. ROBIN WINCHELL 2023. At Grace by Nia in Boston, indulge in a dish full of blackened jumbo shrimp, beef sausage, roasted chicken, crawfish, long grain rice The legal holiday. Louisiana is the only US state to make Mardi Gras a legal holiday. The family holiday. Mardi Gras is a family holiday, and a big part of coming of age in New Orleans. There is a city ordinance in Orleans Parish that prohibits Mardi Gras from being commercialized. No corporate sponsorships are allowed on floats. Carnivals and parades abound during Mardi Gras season, from Epiphany until Fat Tuesday. Seas of purple, gold, and green (symbolizing justice, power, and faith) can be seen everywhere. Mardi Gras Parade Krewes select their kings of Mardi Gras and put on elaborate float parades in their communities. Louisiana's Governor Warmouth signed the Mardi Gras Act in 1875, which made Mardi Gras a legal holiday in Louisiana. It is the only state where Mardi Gras is a legal holiday today, although it is celebrated in other parts of the country, particularly in Alabama and Mississippi. Mardi Gras was celebrated soon after the city of New Orleans was founded in 1718, but was briefly banned when the Spanish took control of New Orleans until Louisiana became a U.S. state in 1812
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