About Mardi Gras

About Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday") is the final day of Carnival, an entire Christian holiday season that begins on the 12th Night of Christmas (January 6) and comes crashing to a halt on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Though Mardi Gras is technically merely one day within the season, the term is used interchangeably with Carnival, especially as the season builds toward the big day. As sometimes befalls the Christmas holiday, the religious associations of Carnival serve mainly as a pretext for weeks of indulgence. Also, like Christmas, Carnival claims elaborately developed traditions of food, drink, and music, as well as a blend of public celebration (the parades) and more exclusive festivities, which take the form of elaborate private balls.

On Mardi Gras day, many New Orleanians don costumes, face paint, and masks, and then take to the streets for the final bash-of-a-celebration before Lent. It's an official city holiday, with just about everyone but the police and bartenders taking the day off. People roam the streets, drinking Bloody Marys for breakfast and switching to beer in the afternoon, and admiring one another's finery. Ragtag bands ramble about with horns and drums, Mardi Gras anthems pour from boom boxes, and king cakes (ring-shape cakes topped with purple, green, and gold sugar) are everywhere. The Zulu, Rex, and the "trucks" parades roll Uptown to downtown with large floats carrying riders who throw plastic beads and trinkets to onlookers. They call it America's largest street party, and that seems about right.

Don't be smug: if you visit, you'll catch the fervor. After a few moments of astonished gaping, you'll yell for throws, too, draping layers of beads around your neck, sipping from a plastic cup as you prance along the street, bebopping with the marching bands, and having a grand old time.

It is never too early to begin planning your trip for Mardi Gras. Mark your calendar -- Mardi Gras falls on February 24, 2009.