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FOOD & TRAVEL // Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
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Mardi Gras celebrations have taken place since the 17th century in Rome, when they celebrated spring and fertility. America's first Mardi Gras was not celebrated until 1703 by French settlers in what is now known as Mobile, Alabama. The celebrations did not make their way to New Orleans until 1718, becoming common and celebrated openly by the 1730s.
Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday," which is the grand finale of Carnival season. Carnival is the time to eat, drink, and be merry before Lent's rigorous fasting and sacrifice begins. Lent is a religious observance that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later on Easter. Mardi Gras holds many rich and exciting traditions:
Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday," which is the grand finale of Carnival season. Carnival is the time to eat, drink, and be merry before Lent's rigorous fasting and sacrifice begins. Lent is a religious observance that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later on Easter. Mardi Gras holds many rich and exciting traditions:
COLORS
The official colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold; purple represents justice, green represents faith, and gold represents power. The three colors adorn the city throughout Carnival, and a lot of the beads and masks are worn by natives and visitors.
KREWES
Krewes are social organizations that plan out the balls and parades for Mardi Gras. There are over 78 krewes in New Orleans. Though some are more popular than others, they all have their own histories.
BALLS
Every year, each Krewe plans a lavish ball during Carnival season. Some balls are invitation-only, while others are open to the public. They are designed to celebrate the krewe's royalty or serve as "coming out" celebrations for debutantes.
BEADS & THROWS
Beads of all shapes and sizes are thrown during parades along with other trinkets, such as toys, cups, and sometimes snack cakes. Some of the more treasured throws are sparkling coconuts, bedazzled purses, decorated dolls, and more!
KING CAKE
A New Orleans' king cake is an oval-shaped coffee cake, braided and covered in icing and sugar the color of Mardi Gras: purple, green, and gold. Each cake has a small plastic baby hidden in them; whoever finds the baby in their piece is named "King for the day" and has to purchase the next king cake. It is traditionally believed that the king cake was brought to America from France in the 1870s.
MASKS
Mardi Gras masks are a standard part of the celebration! They come in various shapes, styles, adornments, and sizes and create an element of mystery when worn. In the beginning, patrons wore makes during Mardi Gras to escape from class and society constraints so everybody could party with everybody. Today, float riders are required to wear masks, and others wear them for excitement and fun.
Many cities across the US, as well as other countries around the world, celebrate Mardi Gras annually; however, New Orleans' Carnival season is one of the biggest and most recognized in the US. Celebratory traditions have morphed according to individual and regional interpretation, but what remains the same is the purpose - eat, drink, & be merry!
The official colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold; purple represents justice, green represents faith, and gold represents power. The three colors adorn the city throughout Carnival, and a lot of the beads and masks are worn by natives and visitors.
KREWES
Krewes are social organizations that plan out the balls and parades for Mardi Gras. There are over 78 krewes in New Orleans. Though some are more popular than others, they all have their own histories.
BALLS
Every year, each Krewe plans a lavish ball during Carnival season. Some balls are invitation-only, while others are open to the public. They are designed to celebrate the krewe's royalty or serve as "coming out" celebrations for debutantes.
BEADS & THROWS
Beads of all shapes and sizes are thrown during parades along with other trinkets, such as toys, cups, and sometimes snack cakes. Some of the more treasured throws are sparkling coconuts, bedazzled purses, decorated dolls, and more!
KING CAKE
A New Orleans' king cake is an oval-shaped coffee cake, braided and covered in icing and sugar the color of Mardi Gras: purple, green, and gold. Each cake has a small plastic baby hidden in them; whoever finds the baby in their piece is named "King for the day" and has to purchase the next king cake. It is traditionally believed that the king cake was brought to America from France in the 1870s.
MASKS
Mardi Gras masks are a standard part of the celebration! They come in various shapes, styles, adornments, and sizes and create an element of mystery when worn. In the beginning, patrons wore makes during Mardi Gras to escape from class and society constraints so everybody could party with everybody. Today, float riders are required to wear masks, and others wear them for excitement and fun.
Many cities across the US, as well as other countries around the world, celebrate Mardi Gras annually; however, New Orleans' Carnival season is one of the biggest and most recognized in the US. Celebratory traditions have morphed according to individual and regional interpretation, but what remains the same is the purpose - eat, drink, & be merry!
