Mardi Gras In New Orleans - The Biggest Party Ever In America

Mardi Gras In New Orleans - The Biggest Party Ever In America

by Abby Cassinia

One thing is for sure, you are going to find it very difficult to find more fun, more excitement, more celebrations and more colorful costumes than the Mardi Gras in New Orleans. This event, also known as Fat Tuesday allows people to indulge before the start of Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.

The Mardi Gras originates from France where it has been celebrated since the Middle Ages. A French explorer known as Iberville landed sixty miles south of the current-day New Orleans, christening the spot Point du Mardi Gras. By around 1823 the American government was persuaded by the local Creoles to re-introduce the Mardi Gras with parties and great merriment. By the time the 19th Century came around, the Mardi Gras was turning into the huge carnival as we know it today, with much revelry and dancing in the streets accompanied by beautifully decorated horse drawn carriages and floats.

The Mardi Gras in New Orleans these days is like no other festival around. Where else can you see French royals, showgirls dressed in feathers, painted clowns and bunnies parading the streets? In New Orleans during Mardi Gras season there is up to 350 floats and more than 15000 costumes being paraded each year, with some happening throughout the streets of New Orleans as early as 6 January. These gigantic floats, with performers performing outrageous tricks, marching bands aplenty and jazz music keeping everyone entertained.

Many famous traditions that are part of Mardi Gras today had their origins from years gone by and one such tradition occurred after a visit by the Russian duke Alexis Romanoff. The Romanoff's bought with them when they came to Mardi Gras their royal house colors of purple, green and gold, which stand for justice, faith and power. These three colours have now been adopted as the official colors of the Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Another tradition, which is seen as a big attraction at Mardi Gras, is the throwing of colorful bead necklaces, cups and toy coins from the floats, which people can take home as a souvenir. Many thousands of these are thrown to the crowd each year.

In order for everyone to enjoy the excitement, Mardi Gras is a public holiday in New Orleans, so businesses close and streets are shut down.

So who is up for a piece of cake? Not just any cake, I'm talking "King Cakes"! There are over 500,000 king cakes sold each year throughout New Orleans during the Mardi Gras season. This fantastic Mardi Gras treats has also spawn a great export market with 50,000 king cakes being shipped from the city each year. The very best of these king cakes include a small plastic baby doll. The one who gets this particular cake is declared a 'king', but then they also have to shout the next cake!

On the 6th of January each year a group of about fifty men and women called the PPP or the Phunny Phorty Phellows ride in costumes in a decorated car along St Charles Avenue blowing loud trumpets, accompanied by a Dixieland band, eating the famous king cake and tossing it to onlookers.

One can go on talking about the New Orleans Mardi Gras, but you have to be there to experience the magic. It is on the bucket list of things to do for millions of would-be travelers.



For an extensive array of information and advice for the <a href="http://www.fomotravel.com/mardi-gras-in-new-orleans.html"> New Orleans Mardi Gras</a>, including travel options, travel tips, party spots and other activities you should contact the events and festival travel specialists, <a href="http://www.fomotravel.com/">FOMO Travel</a>.

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