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Mardi Gras is here again this year! It might be a staple in New Orleans, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the holiday from wherever you are!
In case you can’t go anywhere to enjoy the celebrations, then the magic of internet memes has come to save you! Take a look!
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What is Mardi Gras?
Also known as Fat Tuesday or Carnival, Mardi Gras marks the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent! Before a time of fasting and penance, it just makes sense to indulge yourself while you still can!
The New Orleans Mardis Gras celebration, if the name isn’t enough of a clue, has its origins with the French-Canadians. When explorer Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville, the “Father of New Orleans,” came to the area, he even gave it the name “Pointe du Mardi Gras” after his crew realized the holiday was coming up. In time, the holiday became a staple in the area after he founded New Orleans in 1718.
Various symbols of the New Orleans celebrations include domino masks, beaded necklaces and various foods. One famous example of Mardi Gras cuisine is “king cake,” which often has a small plastic baby inside it for a guest to find it. In other words, it is one of the few times in life you’ll get to play with your food!
The Carnival season is also celebrated in other countries throughout Europe and the Americas. Yes, those parades in Rio are a close cousin to the Mardi Gras festivities. As you may have guessed, the holiday needs to take place on a Tuesday, so the exact date varies each year. For 2018, Mardi Gras falls on February 13.
That’s right! Mardi Gras is Tuesday the 13th this year! Which also means Valentine’s Day is also Ash Wednesday! I guess I have to cancel that date at the steakhouse!
