Happy Mardi Gras!!

Happy Mardi Gras!!
(aka Fat Tuesday!!)

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The History of Mardi Gras
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A French term meaning Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras arouses from the custom of parading a fat ox through the streets of Paris on Shrove Tuesday. Mardi Gras is always 47 days before Easter Sunday.

Mardi Gras came to New Orleans through its French heritage in 1699. Early explorers celebrated this French Holiday on the banks of the Mississippi River. Masked balls and street masking took place in colonial New Orleans, but it was not until 1857 that the street pageants began to assume their present day shape. That year, the Mystic Krewe of Comus held the first night parade and Rex held the first daytime parade. Throughout the years, Orleanians have added to the celebrating by establising krewes (organizations) which host parades and balls. The ranking structure of a Mardi Gras Krewe is a parody of royalty: King, Queen, Dukes, Knights, and Captains. Most Krewe's get their names from Greek, Roman or Egyptian Mythology. Some examples of Krewe names are Pegasus, Atlas, Hermes, Orpheus, and Zulu.

The official colors for Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. These colors were chosen in 1872 by the King of Carnival, Rex. He chose these colors to stand for the following: Purple - Justice, Green - Faith, Gold - Power.

During Carnival Season thousands of King Cakes are consumed. The original King Cake contained a small concealed bean inside. A tiny plastic novelty baby has replaced the bean. When a King Cake is cut, the person who finds the baby is obligated to provide the King Cake at the next festive occasion.

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Note: borrowed this little history from a flyer picked up at Copeland's Famous New Orleans Restaurant & Bar - in Lafayette, LA while visiting (eating catfish) for the Mardi Gras this year...

And borrowed "fat cow" drawings from http://www.carnavaldeparis.org/

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