Mardi Gras

   Mardi Gras 2011 is in full swing this weekend. The parades are rolling down the streets of New Orleans and its party time.  People are always asking me about some of the traditions of the Mardi Gras seasons. Plus I get the question how could you bring your kids there?  Most people who haven’t been there before think of it as just a party on Bourbon Street with nothing but girls gone wild and a lot of drinking. Well I am not going to tell you that Bourbon Street isn’t like that or that there isn’t plenty of drinking going on but Mardi Gras is about so much more. Mardi gras is about excitement, music, picnics, and of course parades. 

   It’s a time to celebrate with family and friends.  Mardi gras or Fat Tuesday is the last day of the Carnival season which always falls the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. It is the feast before the giving up of things for lent.  That is why the date changes year to year. Mardi Gras is 47 days before Easter.  

 

  The celebration starts about 2 weeks before Fat Tuesday with some parades, balls, and socials. The Saturday before Mardi Gras Day is when you want to be in town for all the fun.  That’s when some of the bigger parades with floats and guest riders begin. The first parade was by the Krewe of Comus in 1857 followed by a ball for the Krewe and their guest. This tradition has kept on going with now 60 parades and 115 balls. Most of the parades are in an area of New Orleans known as Uptown. The parade goes thru the Garden District and down St Charles Street. Parades pass the end of the French Quarter but there are no parades in the French Quarter or Bourbon Street. There are also parades outside the city in Metairie. We have been to those a few times and they are very family friendly.  There are plenty of spots you can pick to view from. The closer to the French Quarter the crazier it gets.

   One of the things everyone loves about the parades is the throws.  Each rider has beads, cups, doubloons, stuffed animals, all sorts of trinkets to give you for the asking.

The parade routes are filled with adults & kids with arms in the air asking “Mister Mister throw me something”.  

 Now again we have all heard the “show for beads “and I won’t tell you it doesn’t happen but far less than you think.

On Bourdon Street that is definitely how you get big beads. Parades are different and depending on where you watch from you may never spot a “show”. 

One of the throws everyone waits for is from the Krewe of Zulu which throws hand painted coconuts.  

  If you go will see people dressed in the traditional colors Purple representing justice, Green for faith, and Gold for power.  They dress in crazy costumes.

Part of the fun is watching the crowds walk by between parades.  

Mardi Gras is about having fun and sharing that fun with family and friends.

Happy Mardi Gras All!