mardi gras

Mardi Gras in Louisiana

Written By: Stacy BodinIllustration By: Theresa Hardy

Everyone loves celebrations! Louisiana hosts one called Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is French for Fat

Tuesday. This holiday is sometimes called Shrove Tuesday. Mardi Gras is a holiday is for celebrating

and eating.

The following day is Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent, which is a 40 day period when

Christians give up something they enjoy until Easter. Although Mardi Gras began because of Lent traditions and has since evolved into a big festival celebrated by

people around the world.

New Orleans, Louisiana has the biggest celebration of any American town. It all started when French

explorers celebrated the holiday on the Mississippi River and the party grew from there. Now it's become a popular holiday.

Parades and balls take place all around Louisiana. Kings, Queens and Courts are named. Groups who organize Mardi Gras balls and parades are called

krewes.

During parades, colorful beaded necklaces thrown from floats as souvenirs of Mardi Gras. Cups and toy coins known as "doubloons" are also shared things

thrown during parades.

The colors for

Mardi Gras are purple, gold

and green.

King Cakes are baked and shared. Small plastic babies are baked into King Cakes. Whoever gets the slice of the cake with the baby usually supplies the

next King Cake. Photo from Wikipedia

Mardi Gras is a special holiday

which Louisiana people love to celebrate!