Few people know this but the Mardi Gras Festival, also recognized as Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday denotes the events of the renowned Carnival celebrations, which is a reflection of the last night of feasting before the fasting ritual of the Lenten season.
The celebrations kick off on or after the Epiphany, which is the Christians’ feast and reaches a climax on the eve of Ash Wednesday. The origin of this celebration is in medieval Europe between the 17th and 18th centuries.
The History of the Festival
On March 2, 1699 a French-Canadian explorer called Jeane Baptiste arrived at a place about 60 miles directly south of New Orleans. This was on the very eve of the festive season and when Jeane and his entourage realized this, Jean named that place Pointe Du Mardi Gras.
Later on, New Orleans was formed around 1718 and Mardi Gras was openly celebrated here by the year 1730. During this time, the celebrations did not incorporate the parades as is witnessed today.
However, in recent years the popularity of small parades in the days immediately preceding the Mardi Gras festival have significantly gone up.
Interestingly, the word Mardi Gras is derived from the French language which means Fat Tuesday. In as much as debauchery and partying is associated with these events, it is impossible to overlook the religious, cultural and historical implications of this celebration.
9 Interesting Facts You Never Knew About Mardi Gras
Even though most people may claim good familiarity of this festival, only a few realize that Mardi Gras and Carnival are essentially different; Carnival is the season that begins on the feast of epiphany while Mardi Gras is the actual day of the celebrations.
- Mardi Gras is also great for families especially for kids who would love to spectate at the parades and enjoy a few delights and goodies.
- In the early days, the Krewes threw all manner of items including dirt at the festival. That is why this tradition has been replaced by tossing of plastic beads at the modern festivals instead.
- Unbeknownst to many, Mardi Gras is a recognized legal holiday in Louisiana and this has been in effect since 1875.
- Mardi Gras is also recognized beyond the New Orleans and this is evidenced by the fact that it is celebrated in other parts of the world like Europe and Brazil.
- Revelers are advised to brace themselves during the celebrations; you just can never anticipate what may be thrown your way!
- More than half a million goods are sold annually in New Orleans in the period leading to Mardi Gras festival. The Mardi Gras festival generates about 840 Million dollars.
- A finder of a doll embedded in a king’s cake is declared a king and must buy the next cake or treat.
- Around 95% of hotel rooms at New Orleans Metropolitan are booked and filled to capacity during the festival.
- The largest beads supplier in New Orleans sells about one billion bead pairs during the Mardi Gras festival.
The next Mardi Gras festival is slated for Tuesday, 16 February 2021.
