some background...
Landing on the day before Ash Wednesday, "Fat Tuesday" was a French holiday marked by celebrating one last hurrah before the 40 Days of Lent were underway. These festivities spread to what is now Louisiana after the French settled in the Southern American state, and thanks to some modern alterations, Mardi Gras (which can also trace its roots to Ancient Greece and Rome) has evolved into a statewide holiday synonymous with great music and food, and pure debauchery.
Whether or not you're heading to New Orleans, this helpful party guide and glossary of some Big Easy jargon will surely get you in the mood for some celebrating. From the chaos of the big crowds scrambling for trinkets to the costumes, there is a good time to be had by all.
planning tips
There is a common misconception that the holiday is a prelude to weeks and weeks of partying. In fact, the day marks the end of most festivities, which can fall as early as February 3, or as late as March 9. However, the term Mardi Gras now encompasses the time between Twelfth Night, which lands on January 6th every year, and the day before Ash Wednesday. It is during this period, also called Carnival , that the festivities occur, gradually building up to the climax that is Mardi Gras.Finding lodging during your stay in New Orleans will get increasingly difficult as the party season approaches. Many hotels only offer packages of four or five nights, so rooms get reserved quite rapidly. Recommended spots include the Dauphine Orleans and the Maison Dupuy, both centrally located in the heart of the French Quarter, only blocks from Bourbon Street, where all the action takes place. The prime time to stay is the last five-day weekend of the celebration, from the Friday to the actual day of Mardi Gras. Reserve lodging in advance, as the city's 30,000 hotel rooms fill to 95% capacity during the festival.
A note about the weather: Though New Orleans seems to be nestled deep in the South, the weather does fluctuate, so be prepared for some rain. Aside from comfortable clothes, you'll fit in best if you bring a costume (at least a mask) to wear on Fat Tuesday. With a group of buddies, select something original to show off, perhaps sporting the colors of Mardi Gras: gold (power), purple (justice) and green (faith).
The best way to prepare is simple: Simply throw your inhibitions and judgments out the window. It's the only way to fully appreciate and understand this strange, yet funky holiday.
welcome to party central
You'll realize pretty much from the start that Mardi Gras centers around the parades. With over 60 of them being held in the 12 days before the beginning of Lent, they are the life of this big party, providing entertainment for all. Following the parade are millions of onlookers who not only come to watch which krewe (non-profit organization) puts on the best floats, but also to catch throws (trinkets thrown from floats) that participants toss to the crowd.join the fun
These items, whether they're necklaces, plastic cups, or aluminum coins (known as doubloons ), are intensely desired by the New Orleans crowds, who collect them year after year. If you want to be part of the action, be wary of some good-natured pushing and tussling over a medallion emblazoned with a krewe's logo.To best get a masker 's (parade participant) attention, you have to make like the natives and yell, "throw me something, mister!" Bring a sturdy bag to hold all your loot, since with up to 3,000 participants, an organization's parade can offer up a lot of prized junk.
There are a few big parades to look forward to. In between the drinking and dancing that occurs on cordoned off Bourbon Street during the festivities, the krewes of Bacchus, Argus, Grela, Rex, and Endymion arguably put on the best shows. With celebrity marshals such as Billy Crystal, Tom Jones and Harry Connick, Jr. (who founded the Krewe of Orpheus), and brightly adorned parade kings and queens, these processions are amazing to witness. Parade routes can change each year, though many of the best ones stick to the Uptown area.
Since Mardi Gras does not have one underlying theme, except of course partying like an animal, each parade and float shows off its own story. Subjects range from entertainment and literature to mythology and children's stories.
crazy women
Once the parades die down at night, the place to be is the French Quarter. A bustling area throughout the year, this section of town explodes with activity during Mardi Gras. Though parades do not pass through here, tourists and locals frequent the area -- especially the famed Bourbon Street -- to attend parties at the city's best nightclubs and gawk at the naughty sex shows.If you've seen any Mardi Gras footage on TV or from a buddy's camcorder, it probably takes place on Bourbon Street. Dizzy from the throngs of cheering people and strong alcohol, many women expose themselves in order to obtain more beads for their collection. It's not presumptuous of you to assume that you'll see nudity upon your visit -- it is a virtual certainty. Go here for a true New Orleans experience to people-watch during the day or bar-hop at night.
be a king with some cake
A city already recognized for its great Cajun and Creole fare, New Orleans offers a great addition to the menu with king cakes , a Mardi Gras tradition. Made from cinnamon-filled dough and shaped into a circle or oval, the cake is then glazed and topped with colored sugar. The most popular dessert and snack during the party season, king cakes are baked with different delicious fillings depending on where they're bought. The tradition is not just the cake itself, as the person who receives a small plastic baby in their snack (a plastic doll is baked into the cake) must buy the next round or throw a party.The day of Mardi Gras offers much of the same attractions, just in higher doses and with an emphasis on costume wearing. Marching bands meander around town, while beautifully outfitted "Mardi Gras Indians" put on renowned presentations that are not to be missed.
mardi gras is phat
Offering a party that must be experienced first-hand to be appreciated, Mardi Gras is magic. From the parades to the Bourbon Street eye candy, it is a world-class celebration worthy of at least one visit in your lifetime. The infectious Carnival atmosphere brings New Orleans to a frenzy, making it a can't-miss locale for good-natured and naughty fun.Resources:
http://www.nola.com/mardigras/about/?/mardigras/about/faq.html
http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/mardi1.html
http://www.mardigrasday.com/mardigras/history.php#kingcake
www.mardigrasday.com/mardigras/diction.php
http://www.frenchquarter.com/_php/_history.php
http://www.neworleanscvb.com/new_site/visitor/vismardihow.cfm
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/north_america/new_orleans/attractions.htm
New Orleans Travel Guide
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