What is the origin of Mardi Gras?

Answer 1

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, and it is common practice among Christians to sacrifice worldly pleasures during this season to remember the sacrifice of Jesus being crucified (Good Friday). Somewhere someone got the idea that if you're going to abstain from worldly pleasures for 40 days you might as well party it up for the day (Fat Tuesday) if not the week (MardiGras) before.

Answer 2

In 1699, French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville arrived near New Orleans and named the spot "Pointe du Mardi Gras" when it was realized that it was the day before Ash Wednesday. Bienville later established "Fort Louis de la Louisiane" (Mobile, Alabama) in 1702 and in 1703, there began America's first official Mardi Gras celebration.

Answer 3

Mardi Gras started in ancient Rome when they celebrated Lupercalia. It's a circus like festival not entirely unlike the Mardi Gras today. Mardi Gras came to America in 1699 with the French explorer, Iberrville.

Answer 4

Mardi Gras arrived in North America with the Le Moyne brothers, Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, in the late 17th century, when King Louis XIV sent the pair to defend France's claim on the territory of Louisiane. The expedition, led by Iberville, entered the mouth of the Mississippi River on the evening of March 2, 1699, Lundi Gras, not yet knowing it was the river explored and claimed for France by René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle in 1683. The party proceeded upstream to a place on the west bank about 60 miles downriver from where New Orleans is today, where a small tributary emptied into the great river, and made camp. This was on March 3, 1699, Mardi Gras day, so in honor of this holiday, Iberville named the spot Point du Mardi Gras (French: "Mardi Gras Point") and called the small tributary Bayou Mardi Gras. Even today the most famous Mardi Gras celebrations are held in Louisiana, although other states have much smaller celebrations as well. New Orleans is generally considered to have the largest and most festive celebration, with the Cajun city of Lafayette close behind. In short, it all started in Louisiana...

Answer 5

The French

That's wrong it's New Orleans. I did a project on it in the 5th grade.

That's wrong also... Mardi Gras started in the United States, it originated in Mobile, Alabama

Answer 6

The etymology of the word Mardi Gras is that it originates from the French word Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is a celebration or carnival that occurs before Lent each year.

Answer 7

In Rome & Greece.

Answer 8

Mobile, Alabama

Answer 9

Mardi Gras originated in Mobile, Al.