Omar Khalid
Mardi Gras, also known as Shrove Tuesday, is a Christian holiday celebrated in many countries, particularly those with large Catholic populations. It is believed to have originated from ancient Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia, which involved days of feasting, masquerading, dancing, and drinking. When Christianity arrived in Rome, these pagan celebrations morphed into religious holidays. Mardi Gras is traditionally celebrated on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent, a period of fasting and abstinence. The name Fat Tuesday comes from the custom of consuming rich, fatty foods before the fasting period. The festival features parades, floats, costumes, music, and feasting, with New Orleans, Venice, and Rio de Janeiro being famous for their Mardi Gras festivities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Tuesday before Lent, also known as Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras |
| History | Emerged from ancient Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia; dates back to the Middle Ages |
| Purpose | To mark the beginning of Lent and prepare for the fasting period of Easter |
| Traditions | Feasting, masquerading, dancing, drinking, parades, balls, music, costumes, masks, beads, floats |
| Colors | Purple, green, and gold |
| Food | Crawfish boils, shrimp étouffée, powdered beignets, po'boy sandwiches, king cakes |
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What You'll Learn
Feasting on fatty foods
Mardi Gras, also known as Shrove Tuesday, is the final day of Carnival and falls on the day before Lent, also known as Ash Wednesday. The French translation of Mardi Gras is "Fat Tuesday", referring to the last day of consuming rich, fatty foods before the fasting season of Lent begins.
The Mardi Gras festival involves merrymakers binging on rich, fatty foods such as meat, eggs, milk, lard, and cheese. In New Orleans, the festival is celebrated with parades, elaborate costumes, and tons of delicious food. Here are some fatty foods that are often consumed during the Mardi Gras celebrations:
Crab Cake Sliders
Crab cake sliders are a delicious and indulgent treat, perfect for Mardi Gras celebrations. The crab cakes are made with a blend of crab meat, Cajun spices, and a creamy sauce, served on mini buns with a tangy sauce.
Smoked Sausage Cajun Alfredo
This dish is a twist on the classic fettuccine Alfredo, with the addition of spicy andouille sausage and Cajun spices. It's a creamy and comforting dish that will satisfy any craving.
Gumbo
Gumbo is a traditional New Orleans stew that combines a variety of flavours and textures. It typically includes a dark roux, okra, tomatoes, filé powder, crab, and andouille sausage. It's a hearty and flavourful dish that's perfect for a Mardi Gras feast.
Jambalaya
Jambalaya is another classic Louisiana dish that's packed with flavour. It typically includes chicken, shrimp, and andouille sausage, as well as a mix of vegetables and spices. It's a comforting and hearty dish that's perfect for a festive celebration.
King Cake
King cake is a traditional Mardi Gras dessert that's similar to a cinnamon roll. It's often decorated with colourful icing and sprinkles, and it's a must-have treat at any Mardi Gras party.
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Masquerade balls
Masked balls were also a feature of the earliest Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile, Alabama, which some claim was the birthplace of the festival in the United States. In 1704, Mobile established the Masque de la Mobile, a secret society similar to those that form the current Mardi Gras krewes.
In keeping with the tradition of masked balls, many participants in Mardi Gras processions wear costumes and masks. In New Orleans, these often take the form of fairies, animals, mythical figures, medieval costumes, clowns, and Native American dress. In Venice, golden masks are a feature of the usual round of costumes.
In the present day, the largest Mardi Gras krewes, known as "super krewes", put on the most extravagant balls. These include the Krewe of Bacchus, which celebrates Bacchus, the god of wine and vegetation, and the Krewe of Endymion, which hosts an after-parade extravaganza in the Superdome, with top-name performers and tens of thousands in attendance.
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Street processions
The Mistick Krewe of Comus, a secret society of New Orleans businessmen, organised a torch-lit procession in 1857, setting the tone for future public celebrations in the city. The group was formed by six young Mobile natives, invoking John Milton's hero Comus to represent their organisation. Comus brought magic and mystery to New Orleans with dazzling floats (known as tableaux cars) and masked balls. Krewe members remained anonymous.
In 1872, a group of businessmen invented a King of Carnival, Rex, to preside over the first daytime parade. To honour the visiting Russian Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff, the businessmen introduced his family colours of purple, green, and gold as Carnival's official colours. These colours also had symbolic meanings: purple stood for justice, gold for power, and green for faith.
In Mobile, Alabama, Mardi Gras-associated social events begin in November, followed by mystic society balls on New Year's Eve, and parades and balls in January and February, leading up to midnight before Ash Wednesday. In earlier times, parades were held on New Year's Day.
Mardi Gras celebrations in Venice, Italy, date back to the 13th century and are famous for their masquerade balls. The German celebration, known as Karneval, Fastnacht, or Fasching, also includes parades, costume balls, and a tradition where women cut off men's ties.
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Torch-lit floats
The flambeaux carriers were slaves and free men of colour. Over time, the torch-bearers developed their own unique personalities, performing and dancing for tips from onlookers. The torch-bearers even developed characters and costumes to encourage cash flow. For example, one torch-bearer known as Bigot or Marcus Bernard wore a pimp hat, a pig nose, and big black glasses.
The flambeaux were notably absent from the Carnival festivities following World War II, when they went on strike for higher pay. Today, flambeaux carriers no longer use wooden torches but instead carry large metal sheets attached to poles and lit by heavy kerosene tanks.
Flambeaux continue to play a significant role in Mardi Gras celebrations, lighting up the faces of parade-goers and adding to the excitement of the night parades. The dazzling gaslight torches also serve to illuminate the floats, drawing attention to the creativity and craftsmanship that goes into their design and construction.
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Throwing beads
The tradition of throwing beads and other trinkets during Mardi Gras celebrations is a beloved part of the festival. However, it is also ecologically damaging, as the plastic beads thrown during parades are made from petroleum-based products, which can take decades to degrade, releasing toxins into the environment.
The tradition of throwing beads to spectators during the parade started with the second procession of the Twelfth Night Revelers in the early 1870s. An individual dressed as Santa Claus passed out gifts to spectators as he passed by. The Krewe of Rex continued this tradition, throwing glass beads to spectators in the early 20th century.
The beads used in Mardi Gras are usually purple, green, and gold, with these colours containing Christian symbolism: justice, faith, and power, respectively. The Krewe of Rex established these colours as the official Mardi Gras colours in 1872.
In recent times, there has been a move towards using biodegradable beads during Mardi Gras. Researchers at LSU have developed 3D-printed beads made from bio-based plastics, which can decompose in a matter of months. These beads are also significantly cheaper to produce than previous versions, at 50 cents per strand, making them far more competitive with traditional Mardi Gras beads.
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Frequently asked questions
Mardi Gras is a centuries-old tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages. It was initially celebrated by European Christians as a way to mark the beginning of Lent and the fasting period of Easter. The festival involves parades, elaborate costumes, lively music, and indulgent feasting.
The official colours of Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. Purple stands for justice, gold for power, and green for faith.
Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday", refers to the custom of consuming rich, fatty foods before Lent and marks the beginning of the fasting period.
