Spring Break
Mardi Gras traditions sweep New Orleans
Andrew Villagomez
Issue date: 2/25/09 Section: Focus
What comes to mind when you think of Mardi Gras? Along with the parades, parties, masks, floats, and beads galore, Mardi Gras has a deep history with roots around the world and has been tradition in America since the early 1700s. Even with the poor economy, thousands of Americans are spending their way through and to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras 2009.
Mardi Gras is also known as Pancake Day, Dollar Day, and Fat Tuesday, which is what Mardi Gras means in French. The holiday was born as a last-minute bacchanal before the Catholic Lent, a 40-day time of self-denial and fasting that begins the Wednesday after Mardi Gras on a day known as Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras can fall on any Tuesday between February 3 and March 9, depending on when Ash Wednesday occurs. Celebrations start on January 6 and pick up steam from then on, climaxing the midnight of Fat Tuesday. Mardi Gras's popularity can be traced back to medieval Europe, and today it is celebrated throughout the world.
In America, Mardi Gras is not universally celebrated, but a number of cities and regions have notable celebrations - the most famous of which is undoubtedly that of New Orleans'. Across the nation, both major cities and small towns have adapted various from the holiday's fashion. Companies have also adopted the traditions and incorporated them in their service: International House of Pancakes (IHOP) has a free pancake day every Fat Tuesday, and Universal Theme Park in Orlando has Mardi Gras celebrations throughout January until March.
But nothing beats a personal experience in the Big Easy during Mardi Gras. The celebration has been called irresistibly fun, vibrant, sarcastic and sassy. The parades are extravagant and the entertainment amazing. People dress up in costumes and in anything and everything imaginable. The areas in New Orleans which the have most to offer for the celebrations are the French Quarter, Canal Street and Bourbon Street, and the best time to visit New Orleans for Mardi Gras is the Saturday, Sunday and Monday leading up to Fat Tuesday.
Mardi Gras is also known as Pancake Day, Dollar Day, and Fat Tuesday, which is what Mardi Gras means in French. The holiday was born as a last-minute bacchanal before the Catholic Lent, a 40-day time of self-denial and fasting that begins the Wednesday after Mardi Gras on a day known as Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras can fall on any Tuesday between February 3 and March 9, depending on when Ash Wednesday occurs. Celebrations start on January 6 and pick up steam from then on, climaxing the midnight of Fat Tuesday. Mardi Gras's popularity can be traced back to medieval Europe, and today it is celebrated throughout the world.
In America, Mardi Gras is not universally celebrated, but a number of cities and regions have notable celebrations - the most famous of which is undoubtedly that of New Orleans'. Across the nation, both major cities and small towns have adapted various from the holiday's fashion. Companies have also adopted the traditions and incorporated them in their service: International House of Pancakes (IHOP) has a free pancake day every Fat Tuesday, and Universal Theme Park in Orlando has Mardi Gras celebrations throughout January until March.
But nothing beats a personal experience in the Big Easy during Mardi Gras. The celebration has been called irresistibly fun, vibrant, sarcastic and sassy. The parades are extravagant and the entertainment amazing. People dress up in costumes and in anything and everything imaginable. The areas in New Orleans which the have most to offer for the celebrations are the French Quarter, Canal Street and Bourbon Street, and the best time to visit New Orleans for Mardi Gras is the Saturday, Sunday and Monday leading up to Fat Tuesday.
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