Mardi Gras

# Coins with Rex on it # Beads # The colors purple green and gold

In 1892 the Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff, brother of the heir to the Russian throne visited New Orleans. He was asked to be the Rex (king) of the parade and was given the honor of choosing the official Mardi Gras colors. His choices were purple, green and gold:

-purple symbolized justice,

-green represented faith

-and gold stood for power

These have remained the official colors of Mardi Gras until today.

They celebrate saint Patrick's day, Easter, Halloween, Christmas and saint Steffens day

Most places in the U.S. don't celebrate Mardi Gras in particular. It's mainly something that's in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was originated in the USA in Mobile, AL long before New Orleans even was founded. Mardi Gras is only legally observed as a state holiday in the counties of Mobile and Baldwin in Alabama. The other 65 counties of the state do not recognize it as a holiday.

This site is probably a good first stop: http://www.mardigrascostumes.com/ but there are many others which are equally sensible; http://www.costumecraze.com/Mardi-Gras.html and http://www.buycostumes.com/browse/Adult-Costumes/Mardi-Gras/_/N-3iZ27/results1.aspx are two.

Michel found out i like him today so did his sister Mishel.

The last day before the period of Lent, and the first day of it. Certain foods were historically banned during Lent, so the day before (Tuesday) was a day to use up the leftovers before the household was 'shriven'.

Mardi Gras was not celebrated in 1213 though had it been so it would have been on a Tuesday.

Based on history, it started first in Nice in 1294 A.D. The Comte de Provence started going to Nice for the carnivals. Some of the records say that even masquerades, jugglers and balls were already part of the festivities.

The words Mardi Gras mean Fat Tuesday in French. The fact that the carnival name is French is proof for some that the carnival began in France. The day is also called Shrove Tuesday which means confessing one's sins and getting absolution.he days from Sunday, Monday to Tuesday was called Shrovetide. It's possible that the practice began here. After the festivities, people would confess their sins and prepare for Lent.

purple, green, and gold

Mardi Gras is a celebration most notably held in New Orleans, Louisiana

Jean-Baptiste LeMoyne de Bienville settled the town of Bienville in Louisiana for the Canadians. He was also a governor of Louisiana. His brother Pierre LeMoyne d'Iberville settled the town of D'Iberville.

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.

Shrove Tuesday is the day right before the season of Lent begins. In some major countries it is also called pancake day, it is to begin the time when Jesus died for us until Easter Sunday.

Mardi gras music is referred to as dixie. It is a combination of jazz, blues and zydeco.

Only a minority of gay people celebrate Mardi Gras. Most do not.

The history behind the Mardi Gras beads is that the tradition started when necklaces were thrown instead of medallions to the public.

The colors that are most common are green, purple and gold. They are supposed to be 'royal' colors. The green represents faith, the gold represents power, and the purple represents justice.

The idea was to toss beads in the color that represented the person at whom you were aiming.

PANCAKES

Mardi gras is once a year so don't come and spend all your money , you do have a life outside of new Orleans and bills. Do not carry cash on you no more than 50 dollars..Remember you "left your wallet at the hotel room"... bring a debit card with you. remember carry no cash!

This coming Tuesday, March 8th.

Hi, Shrove Tuesday is always the day before Ash Wednesday. In 1934, Ash Wednesday fell on Wed, 14th Feb, so Shrove Tuesday was therefore on Tues, 13th Feb. Check out www.calendarhome.com for a handy 1934 calendar, with Ash Wednesday highlighted.

It is on the last day of feasting right before Lent. This year it falls on Tuesday, February 12. It varies year to year. Every year, however it will always be on a Tuesday. After all, "Mardi Gras" does mean "Fat Tuesday".

Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent

Because they banned throwing Cracker Jacks because the boxes they came in had sharp of corners. They found Moonpies could be tossed farther into the crowd with less chance of injury, or damage to the treat.

Mardi Gras was brought to Louisiana by early French settlers. The first record of the holiday being celebrated in Louisiana is 1699. During Mardi Gras of 1857 the Mistick Krewe of Comus held its first parade. Comus is the oldest active Mardi Gras organization and started a number of continuing traditions such as the use of floats in parades. In 1875 Mardi Gras was declared a legal holiday by the state of Louisiana. War, economic, political, and weather conditions sometimes led to cancellation of some or all major parades, but celebration of Carnival has always been observed in New Orleans. In 1979 the New Orleans police department went on strike. All the official parades were canceled or moved to surrounding communities. Fewer tourists than usual came to the city. Masking, costuming, and celebrations continued anyway. National Guardsmen prevented crimes against persons or property but made no attempt to enforce laws regulating morality or drug use. For these reasons, some in the French Quarter community are fond of calling 1979 the city's best Mardi Gras ever. The effects of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 definitely had an impact on Mardi Gras. Most of the locals who worked on the floats and rode on them were significantly impacted by the storm's aftermath. Many had lost most or all of the possessions in their homes, but enthusiasm for Carnival was even more intense as an affirmation of life. The themes of many costumes and floats had more barbed satire, with commentary on the trials and tribulations of living in the devastated city. There were mocking references made to MREs, FEMA trailers, Katrina refrigerators, FEMA, local, and national politicians. In the last decade of the 20th century, commercial videos helped encourage a tradition of females baring breasts in exchange for beads and trinkets. During Mardi Gras, women showing their breasts is documented since 1889, when the Times-Democrat decried the "degree of immodesty exhibited by nearly all female masqueraders seen on the streets." The practice was mostly limited to tourists in the upper Bourbon Street area. Until recent years, New Orleans police tolerated women flashing their breasts in the French Quarter if the display did not cause public disruption, but would arrest people for more explicit nudity, particularly "below the waist". In the last couple of years, police have been cracking down on such actions, reasoning that flashing can incite acts of indecency against women who expose themselves. Outside of the French Quarter, attitudes are much less lenient. While many visiting tourists think of Mardi Gras as an "adult" holiday, for most local residents it is a time of family traditions. Many view the parades mainly as sources of enjoyment for children. Parents with young children gather along the parade routes Uptown and in Mid City.

So people could over drink, over eat and have wild parties before they ask for forgiveness on Ash Wednesday. That's why Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is always the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Then Lent, time to fast until Easter.