is for AWESOME!

Mardi Gras is AWESOME ! Mardi Gras, like Christmas, is a whole season - not just one day. That being said, Fat Tuesday is the biggest day of celebration, and the date it falls on moves around. Fat Tuesday can be any Tuesday between Feb. 3 and March 9. Carnival celebration starts on the Twelfth Night (feast of Epiphany), and picks up speed through midnight on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is always 46 days before Easter Sunday. Can you figure it out for each year?

is for BEADS!

BEADS are the most

popular throw! Mardi Gras is

about music, parades, picnics,

floats and excitement. It's one big holiday! Parades are sponsored by Krewe's. Krewes throw trinkets to the parade goers as the floats pass by. How many beads could you catch?

Mardi Gras season is also called CARNIVAL! The French brought this tradition of celebrating to the Gulf Coast of America over 320 years ago! As the French explored the world the tradition grew to various countries. The purpose is about "fattening the cow" or storing up fun and merriment before the ritual of sacrifice and fasting associated with the Lenten season that ends on Easter morning. Do you know what a fast is?

is for Carvinal!

DOUBLOONS are medallions thrown from floats! These coins are aluminum and anodized in many different colors. They depict the parade theme on one side and the Krewe's emblem on the other. Be warned! If you're at your first parade and reach down to pick up a doubloon, your fingers may never be the same! Many stomp on doubloons in their rush to claim them.

Dis for DOUBLOON!

is for Epiphany!

EPIPHANY is the also known as 12th Night or Three Kings Day! It is the last day of the Christmas season and the first day of Mardi Gras! Traditionally it is on January 6th and marks the revelation of the Madi (the Wise Men following the star to see the son of God, baby Jesus). The Epiphany includes other events and miracles that underscore the miracle of a human son of God. Often celebrated by a feast. What would you include in 12th Night Feast?

is for Flambeaux!

FLAMBEAUX is a french word for flames! Mardi Gras along the Gulf Coast is a very old tradition. There were night parades before there were electric or gas street lights. In an effort to light up the floats and so parade attendees could see the colorful floats and catch throws flambeaux were created. They are big torches. Originally they were staves with pine tar rags that were lit but they evolved into oil burning lanterns mounted on long metal trays to keep from burning those that carried them. Carriers have gotten fancy and they dance and do tricks with them. Can you imagine?

is for GREEN and GOLD!

Mardi Gras colors are Purple, Green and Gold! Purple represents justice. Green represents faith and gold represents power. These colors are found in throws, in cloths, in banners hung on balconies, as sugars on top of king cakes, even on ladders to get children high enough to

catch those throws! They are found everywhere during Mardi Gras season! Which Mardi Gras color

is your favorite?

is for HISTORY!

The history of Mardi Gras goes back

to medieval Europe. On March 2, 1699, French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville arrived at a plot of ground 60 miles directly south of New Orleans, and named it "Pointe du Mardi Gras" when his men realized it was the eve of the festive holiday. Bienville also established "Fort Louis de la Louisiane" (which is now Mobile) in 1702. In 1703, the tiny settlement of Fort Louis de la Mobile celebrated America's very first Mardi Gras.

is for Indians!

There is a special group of Mardi Gras participants known as the Indians! Mardi Gras Indians are secret organizations! They have colorful and intricate costumes that use feathers and sequins to hide their identity. They represent African American communities from the intercity of New Orleans. They name themselves after native American Indian tribes in respect for helping to escape the tyranny of slavery. They compete by creating the most elaborate costumes and dances. They parade by looking for other tribes during revelry. The Chief of each tribe sends out Spy Boys to find the other tribes so they can compete in the streets during Mardi Gras. Wouldn't it be fun to be an Indian?

is for Jambalaya!

Jambalaya is a spicy tasty rice dish

traditional to New Orleans and to

Mardi Gras! Visitors to Mardi Gras enjoy great Creole recipes like Jambalaya, Crawfish Pie, Gumbo, and Red Beans and Rice. These are often called Creole or Cajun recipes. Cajuns are people with French Canadian ancestry that settled in Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast centuries ago. Creoles are mixed race people that have roots in the Carribbean, Europe, and Africa. Many of these delicious recipes were created by these multi-cultural groups. They include spices from all these cultures along with fresh seafood, chicken and sausages. Do you like spicy foods?

is for Krewe!

Traditional Mardi Gras

organizations are krewes.

A krewe often names their parade after a particular Roman or Greek mythological hero

or god. The ranking structure of a Mardi Gras Krewe is a parody of royalty: King, Queen, Dukes, Knights and Captains, or some variation of that theme. Many of the more established krewes allow memberships by invitation only. Most krewes do many charitable things throughout the year as they prepare for Mardi Gras balls, parades and parties. What would you name your Krewe?

is for Lagniappe!

Lagniappe means giving someone "a little

something extra!" Lagniappe is a New Orleans and

Gulf Coast tradition. It means giving someone a little extra

whether it is 13 doughnuts (beignets) instead of a dozen or

providing parade goers with really cool trinkets as throws

(like toys)! Different krewes are known for different throws beyond just doubloons and beads! One lady's krewe , Nyx, throws purses to the crowds during their parades! The Krewe of Muse throws shoes, Alla throws Genie Lamps, and Carrollton throws shrimp boots! These are some examples of parade throw lagniappe. What would you like to catch?

is for MASKS!

Whether they cover the wearer’s eyes or

whole face, masks add an element of

mystery and intrigue when worn, around

Mardi Gras! When wearing a mask, carnival goers

are free to be whomever they want to be, and mingle

with everyone. In fact, float riders are required to wear

masks by law. On Fat Tuesday, everyone is free to wear masks, adding to the excitement and magic of celebrations throughout the city. What would your Mardi Gras mask look like?

is for NEW !

New Orleans has many beautiful

balconies perfect for watching a

parade! The city is shaped like a crescent as it sits at the mouth of the largest river in North America, the mighty Mississippi River and also along the banks of Lake Ponchatrain. Being an important port city brought people from across Europe and the world to settle in the city. Food, music, architecture, art and traditions are all examples of the many cultures that have come together over the last 300 years to make New Orleans the unique city that it is. Mardi Gras season is a chance for this multi-cultural city to unify. Have you ever watched a parade from a balcony?

is for PARADE!

Parades in the morning,

parades in the afternoon,

parades at night, that's Mardi Gras!

What would Mardi Gras be without its parades? And what would Mardi Gras parades be without sassy, sequined, irreverent dance troupes and marching clubs? It’s a great way to be a part of Mardi Gras without the expense of joining a big krewe. The best of the best groups like to do it up big. Big costumes, big dance routines, big color, big hair, big glitter! What would you name your marching club?

is for Queen!

Krewes select Kings and Queens of Mardi

Gras each year to reign over the Mardi

Gras Ball and over their events and

parades! Kings and Queens are selected in different

ways by different krewes. Some form teams and raise

money throughout the year for charitable organizations, others are selected by traditions based on the history of the krewe. The Kings and Queens have elaborate royal costumes with big head dresses and collars and long trains that are full of sequins and jewels. They are attended by royal pages that help them to move their trains around during public events. Who do you think this Mardi Gras Queen and her page are?