what is the New Orleans MARDI GRAS?

Question

here in australia we dont see much of it but every time i have seen footage its just a bunch of people walking up a street with beeds around there neck, is that all it is

Answer 1

Mardi Gras is a celebration which marks the beginning of Lent, which, many, many years ago was celebrated by the slaughter of a fatted bull or ox (boeuf gras)—it came to be known as Fat Tuesday or, as the French would say, Mardi Gras. Occurring on any Tuesday from Feb. 3 through March 9, Mardi Gras is tied to Easter, which falls on the first Sunday after the full moon that follows the Spring Equinox. The climax of Carnival, Mardi Gras is always scheduled 47 days preceding Easter (the 40 days of Lent plus seven Sundays).



New Orleans has put its own little twist on the Mardi Gras celebration, which has not become world renown. I have included a few links for you to surf through. It is a very celebrated time of year in Louisiana. We actually have time off from work and school.



Enjoy:



http://www.mardigrasunmasked.com/mardigras/history.htm



http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/history.html



http://www.history.com/minisites/mardigras

Answer 2

If that's ALL you saw, you sure didn't see much! It really cannot be explained; it has to be EXPERIENCED. It's the world's biggest street party, and New Orleans has the most famous celebration in North America. The Carnival season in New Orleans starts every year on Jan. 6, which is Twelfth Night, and continues until midnight on Fat Tuesday, the final day of the entire season. Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday in French, as the celebration came here from the French. It has been celebrated in New Orleans since the early 1700s, but the celebration has changed over the years.

There are dozens of parades that roll all over the metro New Orleans area, starting about 2 weeks prior to Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is Feb. 5 next year. It is connected to the Catholic Lenten observance, so the date fluctuates every year, but it most often falls in Feb. It can fall on any Tues. from Feb. 3-Mar. 8. It's all about the last fling and celebration before the strict observance of Lent for the devout Catholics, of which I am NOT. Masked riders on the floats in the parades throw plastic beads, stuffed toy animals, and many other items that people love to catch and collect. No, they don't throw anything valuable, but you'd never guess it the way people scramble and fight over the throws. Every parade has a theme. The parades are put on and paid for by private citizens; the city of New Orleans ONLY provides police protection and clean up afterward. The parades are called "krewes," and they follow a set route, depending on where in the city they start. Many of the parades have HUGE floats with fiber optic lights that are quite stunning to see!

Mardi Gras is a holiday in New Orleans; all government offices are closed that day, as are all schools and many businesses. It is indeed viewed as a FAMILY celebration, particularly in the suburbs and smaller towns outside New Orleans. Mardi Gras is actually celebrated across several states along the U..S. Gulf Coast, but each is a little bit different and New Orleans is without question the BIGGEST celebration.

In addition to the parades, there are balls that start in the fall and go throughout the Carnival season. Many are formal balls, by written invitation only. The balls are held in hotels and other venues.

For more info, go to: www. mardigrasguide.com

Answer 3

heres some vids



http://youtube.com/watch?v=i30srAmgJDI

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WvT6jdfD2Hs



not the best .. but U can look some more up on youtube

Answer 4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mardi_Gras