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It is finally here! the carnival days that all the youth are waiting for. Mardi Gras is the name of the carnival that is celebrated in some parts of the United States, such as New Orleans Louisiana, Mobile, Alabama and St. Louis, Missouri. It is celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday.
The so-called Fat Tuesday refers to the fact that it was the last day to enjoy all kind of pleasures before the time of abstinence that marks the beginning of Holy Week and Lent, and is usually quite crazy.
Mardi Gras is traditionally celebrated on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. In many areas, however, it has become a week-long festival. This year Mardi Gras 2019 will be held on Tuesday, March 05.
While not observed nationally throughout the United States, a number of traditionally ethnic French cities and regions in the country have notable celebrations. Mardi Gras arrived in North America as a French Catholic tradition 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, which included what are now the U.S. states of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and part of eastern Texas.
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According to the official website of Mardi Gras, its origins go back to medieval Europe, passing through Rome and Venice in the 17th and 18th centuries to the French House of Bourbons. When Christianity arrived in Rome, the religious leaders decided to incorporate these traditions in preparation for Lent.
The first celebration of Mardi Gras in the USA happened on March 3, 1699, when French explorers Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville landed near present-day New Orleans, Louisiana. They held a small celebration and christened their point of arrival at Point du Mardi Gras.
In 1827, a group of students dressed in colorful costumes and danced through the streets of New Orleans and ten years later, the first parade was recorded in the city, a tradition that continues today.
In Brazil, the one-week carnival presents several European, African and indigenous traditions.
In Canada, Quebec City hosts the gigantic Winter Carnival.
In Italy, tourists flock to the Carnevale de Venecia, which dates back to the 13th century and is famous for its costume dances.
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The traditional colors are purple, gold and green. It is said that these colors were chosen in 1892 when the Rex parade had the "Meaning of colors" as a theme for their floats. purple equals justice, green to faith and golden to power.
Legend has it that in the 1880s, a man dressed as Santa Claus received such fame by throwing beads, and others imitated him. Before that, carnival organizers threw any kind of items, including food and dirt, but nowadays they wear plastic necklaces.
Parade routes can look empty, but the crowd size can swell fast within an hour or two of the parade, making that front-row spot four or five people deep. For the biggest parades rolling in the evenings on the weekend before Mardi Gras, plan to get there about four hours ahead of time to get yourself a great spot.
It's the one season of the year when you can dress up as anything imaginable besides Halloween. There are contests for costumes in every part of the city, and the crowd-watching is as much fun as the parades. Have that phone ready for picture taking. You're going to want to share the creativity.
The city and suburban parades are for families, too (excluding the French Quarter). You can bring blankets and picnic baskets, and get there early to enjoy the day. As parade time nears, the crowd will gather everywhere, and you'll have to put up the blanket and ice chest. Don't be surprised if someone jumps on your stuff to reach a pair of beads.
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Most visitors to Houston will fall in love. The city is rich in culture, history and charm. It is also one of the most important culinary destinations in the US. Its citizens are warm, friendly and charming. Houston simply enters your heart and there it stays!
Mardi Gras is the celebration of all those things. It is a wonderful time of fun and festivities. People are in love with their city and love to show off for visitors.
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