Photo taken from the balcony at the Royol Sonesta over looking Bourbon Street!Recently on business trip a colleague and I had visited New Orleans...we asked someone what is Mardi Gras? We knew what it celebrates but wanted to see what others thought!
One said that it is a celebration of drinking and partying! Well yes, some may think that but that is not the real reason behind Mardi Gras!
Facts on Mardi Gras:
1. Also known as Fat Tuesday, the final day of Carnival
2. The begining of Carnival starts on Jan. 6th known as the Twelfth Night.
3. First celebration in the U.S has been dated back to 1699 but not in New Orleans till the 1740's.
4. The first U.S parade started in 1838.
5. The colors of Mardi Gras are purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power.
6. Mardi Gras is always scheduled 47 days preceding Easter.
7. If you get the baby in the King Cake it is said that you are the Queen for the day and you will have good luck in this year! And you will be asked to host next year's King Cake Party!
8. In 1875, Governor Warmoth of Louisiana signs the "Mardi Gras Act" making it a legal holiday in Louisiana, which is still is.
9. By law, float riders must always have a mask on.
10. It is traditional for you to receive doubloons that are throw from the floats but watch out as if you pick them up you are likely to get knocked down by another trying to get it too. These coins were also the first coins minted in America.
Don't forget to eat your King Cake today!
I can't wait until our New orleans trip! Too bad we will miss Mardi Gras by just a few days. My husband wouldn't take me anyways...we have always heard all of the bad stuff about it.
ReplyDeleteand just who is making King Cake? i never had it....but we have oatmeal cookies!
ReplyDelete