Mardi Gras | History, Origin, Meaning, Definition, New Orleans, & Facts (2024)

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Mardi Gras | History, Origin, Meaning, Definition, New Orleans, & Facts? ›

Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday", reflecting the practice of the last night of consuming rich, fatty foods in preparation for the Christian fasting season of Lent, during which the consumption of such foods is avoided. Mardi Gras. Celebrations in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

Mardi Gras has been celebrated in New Orleans since the explorer Iberville first set foot here on Mardi Gras Day 1699. In French colonial days, wealthy members of Creole society threw lavish Mardi Gras balls from Twelfth Night (Jan. 6) to Fat Tuesday Eve.

Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday.” It's best known as the New Orleans celebration of carnival that leads up to Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, the season of fasting and penitence during the 40 weekdays before Easter in the Catholic calendar.

Carnival is a time to eat, drink and be merry before the rigorous fasting and sacrifice during Lent. It is filled with parades, balls and other celebrations leading up to Mardi Gras, which is French for “Fat Tuesday.” Mardi Gras is always the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.

The most popular size today is about thirty-three inches long. They are also now made with cheaper and safer materials like plastic and aluminum rather than glass. Traditional Mardi Gras beads are purple, green, and gold colors. The purple symbolizes justice; the green represents faith, and the gold signifies power.

Mardi Gras, 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 in preparation for fasting and abstinence.

And in 1892, the Rex parade theme "Symbolism of Colors" gave meaning to these colors. Purple Represents Justice. Green Represents Faith. Gold Represents Power. There's no denying that.

That tradition started in Mobile, home of Mardi Gras, when it was decided that Cracker Jack boxes, the item that used to be thrown during parades, were just too darn hard. So, MoonPies, a value at just a nickel back then, became the thing to throw.

Mardi Gras Symbols

Perhaps the only symbol more ubiquitous in New Orleans than the Mardi Gras colors purple, gold and green is the fleur de lis.

Mardi Gras is considered to be the culmination of a festive season leading up to Lent (another custom not taught in the Bible but recognized by even more churches). Mardi Gras is purposely designed to commemorate frivolity, carousing and sin, but is considered in many quarters to be part of the Christian calendar.

What's the meaning of Fat Tuesday? ›

Fat Tuesday is the great feast before Lenten fasts begin. Traditionally, Catholics have embraced Fat Tuesday as a way to get rid of all the fats and desserts in the house in preparation for Lent. With these tempting goodies already consumed, it's easier to more fully engage in Lent and experience spiritual growth.

This is French for "Fat Tuesday," a reference to the fact that Mardi Gras always is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent in the Catholic faith.

A krewe is, simply, a club or organization that exists to celebrate Carnival. But while a krewe has royalty, the positions of king and queen are merely ceremonial. The identities of the queen and her maids are usually public, while the identities of kings are often secret—Rex being a notable exception.

Mardi Gras Day - also known as Fat Tuesday - marks the final day of Carnival Season! It is always the day before Ash Wednesday, and is the biggest day of celebration during Mardi Gras. Zulu and Rex parades roll, but other parties and city-wide celebrations occur as well.

New Orleans is world-renowned for its distinctive music, Creole cuisine, unique dialects, and its annual celebrations and festivals, most notably Mardi Gras. The historic heart of the city is the French Quarter, known for its French and Spanish Creole architecture and vibrant nightlife along Bourbon Street.

After the French-Indian War Louisiana was ceded to Spain in the Treaty of Paris of 1763. With this change in leadership over the region, Mardi Gras celebration began to be put to a halt.

Mardi Gras is the annual Carnival celebration in Mobile, Alabama. It is the oldest official Carnival celebration in the United States, started by Frenchman Nicholas Langlois in 1703 when Mobile was the capital of Louisiana.

The Colors of Mardi Gras

The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. These are said to have been chosen in 1892 when the Rex Parade theme "Symbolism of Colors" gave the colors their meanings. Purple - Justice. Green - Faith. Gold - Power.