Big fun in the Big Easy is centered around Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Also known as Fat Tuesday, this celebration marks the final day of feasting before Ash Wednesday. The festival features colorful parades, intricate costumes, music, and food. It is a colorful tradition that recognizes Catholic beliefs while still having fun.
Lets Get This Party Started!
Louisiana is the only state to honor Mardi Gras as a legal holiday, as the celebration is deeply woven into the state’s culture. According to History.com, when the Spanish took control of Louisiana from France in 1803, these lively festivals were banned. This whirlwind of color never fully returned until Louisiana became a US state in 1812. The spread of Christianity across Rome, France, and England led to the incorporation of local traditions, including those related to Mardi Gras.
While a group of students danced in the streets of New Orleans in colorful costumes, the first celebration of Mardi Gras was documented after 10 years. Currently, the week leading up to Lent, a 40-day catholic celebration in preparation for Easter Sunday, is the designated time to honor the Mardi Gras festivities. This includes binge eating fatty foods like meat, cheese, and lard-laden junk before Lent’s fish-only diet every Friday.
Its a Mardi Party
The classic Mardi Gras symbols like beads, King Cake, and costumes all carry deep significance. The common green, purple, and gold colors each represent a different idea. Purple stands for justice, green means faith while gold shows power. These are common concepts in the Catholic religion and displayed throughout the festivities, most notably on beaded necklaces. Always the Holidays shares that these beads are known as “throws,” which float riders toss to the crowd to symbolize abundance and good luck. While modern beads are made of plastic, they were originally made from glass.
History.com also mentions that the history of the King Cake is tied to the tradition of the Three Kings bringing gifts to the infant Jesus. This is typically a round-shaped pastry with a small plastic doll hidden inside the. Traditionally, the person who finds the doll has to buy the next cake or throw the next Mardi Gras party, according to KTALnews.com
Let the Good Times Roll
At this time, people from all over the U.S. gather in Louisiana to participate in the parade. The Mardi Gras parade is known to everyone, with different states even forming their own parade. This tradition has been passed down from the very first Mardi Gras. History.com notes that all over the world, lantern festivals take place along with carnivals to symbolize the holiday. For example, in Germany, women cut their husbands’ ties during the parade to symbolize female empowerment. Mardi Gras is not just a big party. It displays the cultural significance of different countries and eras. The different symbols all showcase a special part of tradition and heritage.
