Mardi Gras in South Louisiana
All over the country it is another pretty typical day. We all got up, ate breakfast, got the kids off, and headed to work. Just another Tuesday, unless you are in South Louisiana that is. Because on this particular Tuesday we do it a little different. That’s right boys and girls, it’s Mardi Gras in the Big Easy. Mardi Gras (AKA Fat Tuesday) originated as a pretty much last chance free for all before the Lenten season began, but today has evolved into so much more. Mardi Gras occurs each year in the the six weeks leading up to the day before Ash Wednesday getting more intense as it moves along with the biggest celebration of all falling on Fat Tuesday itself. Now I am sure you have an image in you head of Mardi Gras that consists of beads, Bourbon St, and booze, and while these all may be part of the festival also known as Carnival I assure you that this is all just a small glimpse. Mardi Gras is a spectacle in itself that can not be simply described, it needs to be experienced to fully appreciate it in it’s entirety. Starting with the standard colors which stand for justice, faith, and power no detail is overlooked. With over 60 parades in the New Orleans area alone their is little time to spare. Krewes begin work on these parades a year in advance to be ready for Mardi Gras season. Each parade has a different theme and take several months to construct the floats and organize the festivities that are capped off with individual Mardi Gras Balls. From walking parades to super parades, in Louisiana we let no opportunity to have a party go to waste and Mardi Gras is no exception. Down here we have a saying “laissez les bon temps rouler” which means “let the good times roll”, and Mardi Gras is the very epitome of this saying. I am sure you have all seen a parade before. Maybe even attended the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Well Mardi Gras is nothing like that. We do not simply spectate at a Mardi Gras parade, we are part of it. The crowds are every bit as much of an attraction as the krewes and floats themselves. Mardi Gras is much more than a parade, it’s an experience. And I haven’t even mentioned the king cake yet. You thought I was holding out on you didn’t you? The king cake may be my favorite part of Mardi Gras and if you have never had a king cake before boy are you missing out. It’s basically a giant cinnamon roll that loves you back. Now king cakes can be as simple or as elaborate as one can dream. Their are many different forms of king cake and everyone has their favorites. It can almost be a comical battle listening to people argue about who makes the best king cakes. And regardless of who wins the argument (no one ever wins the argument), the king cake itself is an experience just as the rest of Carnival season filled with it’s own fun and tradition. Inside of each king cake is a small plastic baby(representing Baby Jesus). As the tradition goes, the person who gets the baby in their piece has to buy the next cake. Yeah it all sounds a little silly, but it’s just Mardi Gras at its best and there is nothing quite like it. But as I said earlier, Mardi Gras is something that cannot be described with only words. This is an experience that you simply have to see to believe. So what are you waiting for? Laissez les bon temps rouler!!!
Nick Poche’
Avid Disney fan, husband to Tiffany, father of three, Brock, Bailey, and Brennan. Lover of travel and blogger for the We Dream of Disney and Beyond Blog.
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