Mardi Gras is a big party that happens in the city of New Orleans in Louisiana. It’s a carnival time where people wear colorful costumes, masks and dance in the streets.
Mardi Gras is a French word, which means 'Fat Tuesday'. It is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Christian season of Lent. During Lent, Christians fast and give up things they enjoy, like sweets or being lazy. So, Mardi Gras is a day to have a lot of fun before the serious time of Lent begins.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans starts in January and ends on Fat Tuesday, which is the day before the start of Lent. For two weeks, the people of New Orleans celebrate with parades, parties, music, and lots of food.
The things you will see at Mardi Gras are called Krewes. A Krewe is like a group of friends who work together to make floats and costumes for the parade. Every Krewe has its own special theme, and every Krewe has a King and Queen who ride the float.
People who come to watch the parade can catch beads, which are colorful necklaces made of plastic. People who ride on the floats throw the beads to the crowds as they pass by. Catching beads is a lot of fun, and people try to catch as many as possible.
One of the most famous things about Mardi Gras is the food. People eat a lot of delicious things like gumbo, jambalaya, and king cake. King cake is a sweet pastry that is shaped like a circle and has colorful sugar on top. Inside the cake, there is a tiny plastic baby. Whoever gets the baby in their slice of cake is considered lucky.
Mardi Gras is a fun and exciting time in New Orleans that everyone should experience at least once. It’s a time to dress up, dance, eat, and have fun with friends and family. And, it’s a great way to celebrate the start of Lent in a festive way!