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- Mardi Gras 2010: February 16
- Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" in FrenchAt New Orleans: Mardi Gras
- The name Fat Tuesday refers to its being the last day before fasting for Lent begins
- Parades begin approximately two weeks before Mardi Gras, when the main parades and festivals are held
- Organization: Secret autonomous social clubs called krewes plan, pay for and manage the balls and paradesNovaReinna: Krewes
- First historic mention: 1699Carnaval: Mardi Gras Myth and History
- First parade: 1837
- First African-American participation: Zulu Krewe, 1909Carnaval: Mardi Gras Myth and History
- First female participation: Krewe of Venus, 1941NovaReinna: Krewes
- Colors: The colors of Mardi Gras are Purple, Gold, and Green
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Mardi Gras is a city-wide party held in New Orleans, Louisiana, on the last day before Lent each year, and attended by visitors from all over the world. The parade, dances and festival blend French, African, Caribbean, Cajun, Native American and Roman Catholic cultural rituals to celebrate the city's music and diversity.
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History
The Mardi Gras celebration was brought to the New World in 1699 by French settlers, who based the festival on European religious festivals. Mardi Gras is the final day of Carnival, a pre-Lenten festival celebrated in New Orleans between January 6 (Epiphany) and Ash Wednesday. Related festivals around the world include Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, and various Mardi Gras celebrations throughout the world. NovaReinna: Krewes Carnaval: Mardi Gras Myth and HistoryOrganization
Mardi Gras parties, parades and balls are all organized by autonomous social groups called krewes. Krewe members stage parades and build costumes and floats for them, and hold masked balls and tableaux balls in which people act out scenes of history or adventure. Celebrities associated with Mardi Gras include Pete Fountain, Harry Connick, Jr. and Wynton Marsalis.NovaReinna: KrewesMardi Gras and Hurricane Katrina
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the city and severely depressed attendance. Modern pre-Katrina attendance records were estimated at between 1-3 million visitors. Approximately 350,000 visitors attended in 2006.; Since then attendance has recovered more quickly than the city as a whole.-
Mardi Gras Questions
Would you sign a petition to ask the Pope to make Mardi Gras two weeks later? 5 AnswersThats a good question. Sure. I'd sign a petition.. Wouldn't do any good though. This could be possible if the Catholic Church was responsive to change, but th... read more
What does Mardi Gras mean? 3 AnswersMardi Gras (literally translated from French the words in the printed order means, Tuesday Fat. But nouns are pronounced first in French so when corrected to En... read more
What is the history of Mardi Gras? 6 Answershttp://www.anniemayhem.com/blog%20pics/MardiGrasJester.jpg In French, Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" and is celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday as a last "... read more
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Mardi Gras Travel
- Mahalo's Guide to New Orleans Hotels | Restaurants | Tours | Vacations
- eHow: How to Find Mardi Gras Travel Packages
- Yahoo! Travel: Mardi Gras, New Orleans Travel Guide
- Budget Travel: Mardi Gras: Still America's Biggest Party (February 6, 2007)
- Mardi Gras Digest: Mardi Gras Travel


