Mardi Gras Celebrations

The word Mardi Gras in French means Fat Tuesday. It is the day before Ash Wednesday or the beginning of Lent. Other names for Fat Tuesday are, Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day. Fat Tuesday can occur any time between February 3rd and March 9th. This will depend on when Easter is celebrated that year.

As mentioned before, Mardi Gras is not just a celebration that is confined to the United States. There are lots of other countries that take Mardi Gras celebrations very seriously. One of these places is Brazil. They will hold a Rio de Janeiro Carnival each year in the two weeks prior to Lent. Brazil's version of Mardi Gras is very similar to the one held in America. There are plenty of parades, parties, and a lot of delicious and fattening foods. But the one thing that makes it distinctly Brazilian is the inclusion of Samba dancing.

There are other places that have Mardi Gras celebrations the same time that the United States has their Mardi Gras celebrations. Some of these places include Venice in Italy and Mazatlan in Mexico. There are also various cities in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean that celebrate Mardi Gras.

Every year, Mardi Gras in New Orleans attracts thousands of visitors and party goers. It has long been a huge source of revenue for this city. But on August 29th, 2005, the landscape of New Orleans and other areas throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama took a devastating hit. That is when hurricane Katrina swept in and virtually crushed everything in her path. The levees broke and entire cities were under water.

But even this major catastrophe did not hold back the Mardi Gras celebration. The following year, Mardi Gras took place. The crowd wasn't as large, but the people of the south were prepared to show the rest of the country that no matter what happens, they will go on with their lives.

Mardi Gras is more than just a few days of partying and debauchery. It is a true coming together of people from every social standing and culture. These are people that are coming together as one to have a good time and enjoy each other's company.

So if you have never experienced Mardi Gras, you should put it on your list of things to do before you die. You will never experience another atmosphere quite like Mardi Gras. And be sure to sample the Creole and Cajun cooking while you're in New Orleans!