News and Tips #8 - Mardi Gras - February 17, 2015

Today is Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday.  It marks the last day of the pre-Lenten festival of Carnival.

For most North Americans, thoughts of Mardi Gras always focus on New Orleans which has its well-known festival.  It is a great time of fun and revelry.

While Mardi Gras is now a time honoured tradition in,  and synonymous with New Orleans its roots lie elsewhere in the South.  It seems that first recorded Mardi Gras was held in Mobile, Alabama in 1703, and it is still celebrated today.  That is a lot of time to do it right.  From there Mardi Gras spread to other cities in the South, as well as other cities across the USA that have their own version of Mardi Gras.

To better understand what Mardi Gras is all about it is good to have an understanding of some of the traditions and vocabulary associated with the festival.  Purple, green and gold are the colours of Mardi Gras.  Not only do the colours represent virtues, there is also an historical significance in their choice.

While visiting New Orleans, if you want to fully see the city and what it is all about it is best to go into the French Quarter beyond Bourbon Street, and the rest of the city.  Experience some of the sights, sounds and flavours that have given New Orleans its character.

If you haven't been able to attend Mardi Gras this year, or if you haven't yet had enough of it, perhaps tonight's (February 17, 2015) episode of NCIS: New Orleans will help.  The show will have a Mardi Gras theme.  Great care was taken to recreate an authentic Mardi Gras atmosphere for the show.

References:

-The Pussyfooters - New Orleans celebrates Mardi Gras - Pictures - CBS News
-Mardi Gras: Not just in New Orleans - USAToday
-Mardi Gras outside New Orleans? Here's how other cities celebrate - nola.com
-Top 10 Mardi Gras Traditions You Should Know - theculturetrip.com
-Beyond Bourbon Street: 10 Things You Don't Know About New Orleans - Conde Nast Traveler
-Mardi Gras by the Numbers: "NCIS New Orleans" Lets the Good Times Roll - Yahoo TV