The New Orleans Mardi Gras is all about fun, excitement, celebrations and colorful costumes. What is much less known is that the event has religious significance and allows people in the christian world to indulge before the start of Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.
The Mardi Gras originates from France where it has been celebrated since the Middle Ages. A French explorer known as Iberville landed sixty miles south of the current-day New Orleans, christening the spot Point du Mardi Gras. By around 1823 the American government was persuaded by the local Creoles to re-introduce the Mardi Gras with parties and great merriment. By the time the 19th Century came around, the Mardi Gras was turning into the huge carnival as we know it today, with much revelry and dancing in the streets accompanied by beautifully decorated horse drawn carriages and floats.
What you will find at this outrageous carnival are French royals, showgirls dressed in feathers, painted clowns and bunnies, all parading the streets of New Orleans. You can join in the throngs of people to watch magnificent floats go by, performers performing outrageous tricks and heaps of marching bands and plenty of jazz music to draw you in. You can expect to see more than 350 floats and over 15000 costumes being paraded.
Many famous traditions that are part of Mardi Gras today had their origins from years gone by and one such tradition occurred after a visit by the Russian duke Alexis Romanoff. The Romanoff's bought with them when they came to Mardi Gras their royal house colors of purple, green and gold, which stand for justice, faith and power. These three colours have now been adopted as the official colors of the Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Another tradition, which is seen as a big attraction at Mardi Gras, is the throwing of colorful bead necklaces, cups and toy coins from the floats, which people can take home as a souvenir. Many thousands of these are thrown to the crowd each year.
The Mardi Gras is just one big holiday in New Orleans and businesses and roads get shut down so that people can enjoy the excitement.
Another New Orleans Mardi Gras tradition is the "King Cakes" and there are over 500,000 of these king cakes sold each year throughout the city between 6 January and the day of Mardi Gras. This Mardi Gras specialty also sees over 50,000 king cakes shipped from New Orleans as well. Some of these king cakes actually include a small plastic baby doll inside. The person who gets one of these cakes is declared 'the king'. Unfortunately it is not the best prize as it is your turn to buy the next cake if this occurs.
The Mardi Gras season commences on the 6th of January each year. One of the traditions on this day involves a group called the Phunny Phorty Phellows, which contains about 50 men and women who ride in costumes in a decorated car along St Charles Avenue. The PPP blow loud trumpets, accompanied by a Dixieland band, and can often be seen eating the famous king cake and tossing it to people on the streets.
One can go on talking about the New Orleans Mardi Gras, but you have to be there to experience the magic. It is on the bucket list of things to do for millions of would-be travelers.
The Mardi Gras originates from France where it has been celebrated since the Middle Ages. A French explorer known as Iberville landed sixty miles south of the current-day New Orleans, christening the spot Point du Mardi Gras. By around 1823 the American government was persuaded by the local Creoles to re-introduce the Mardi Gras with parties and great merriment. By the time the 19th Century came around, the Mardi Gras was turning into the huge carnival as we know it today, with much revelry and dancing in the streets accompanied by beautifully decorated horse drawn carriages and floats.
What you will find at this outrageous carnival are French royals, showgirls dressed in feathers, painted clowns and bunnies, all parading the streets of New Orleans. You can join in the throngs of people to watch magnificent floats go by, performers performing outrageous tricks and heaps of marching bands and plenty of jazz music to draw you in. You can expect to see more than 350 floats and over 15000 costumes being paraded.
Many famous traditions that are part of Mardi Gras today had their origins from years gone by and one such tradition occurred after a visit by the Russian duke Alexis Romanoff. The Romanoff's bought with them when they came to Mardi Gras their royal house colors of purple, green and gold, which stand for justice, faith and power. These three colours have now been adopted as the official colors of the Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Another tradition, which is seen as a big attraction at Mardi Gras, is the throwing of colorful bead necklaces, cups and toy coins from the floats, which people can take home as a souvenir. Many thousands of these are thrown to the crowd each year.
The Mardi Gras is just one big holiday in New Orleans and businesses and roads get shut down so that people can enjoy the excitement.
Another New Orleans Mardi Gras tradition is the "King Cakes" and there are over 500,000 of these king cakes sold each year throughout the city between 6 January and the day of Mardi Gras. This Mardi Gras specialty also sees over 50,000 king cakes shipped from New Orleans as well. Some of these king cakes actually include a small plastic baby doll inside. The person who gets one of these cakes is declared 'the king'. Unfortunately it is not the best prize as it is your turn to buy the next cake if this occurs.
The Mardi Gras season commences on the 6th of January each year. One of the traditions on this day involves a group called the Phunny Phorty Phellows, which contains about 50 men and women who ride in costumes in a decorated car along St Charles Avenue. The PPP blow loud trumpets, accompanied by a Dixieland band, and can often be seen eating the famous king cake and tossing it to people on the streets.
One can go on talking about the New Orleans Mardi Gras, but you have to be there to experience the magic. It is on the bucket list of things to do for millions of would-be travelers.
About the Author:
The events and festival travel specialists, FOMO Travel, has developed a new site that provides an extensive array of information and advice for the New Orleans Mardi Gras, including travel options, travel tips, party spots and other activities.
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