mark's madness

Why do they call it Mardi Gras?

“Mardi Gras” is French for  “Fat Tuesday.”  Traditionally, it is the last day for Catholics to indulge—and often overindulge—before Ash Wednesday starts the weeks of fasting that come with Lent.  Formally known as Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras has long been a time of extravagant fun for European Christians.  In fact, some people think Mardi Gras celebrations have their source in the wild springtime orgies of the ancient Romans.
In the United States, Mardi Gras draws millions of fun-seekers to New Orleans every year. Mardi Gras has been celebrated in New Orleans on a grand scale, with masked balls and colorful parades, since French settlers arrived in the early 1700s. Hidden behind masks, people behaved so raucously that for decades in the early 19th century masks were deemed illegal in that party-loving city.

Quick Mardi Gras Q & A

What do the colors of Mardi Gras (purple, green and gold) symbolize?
Purple represents Justice; Green represents Faith; Gold represents Power.

When is  Mardi Gras and why does it always occur on different dates?
Mobile Carnival officially begins with the Mobile International Carnival Ball in early November, and ends in April. In New Orleans, Carnival officially begins on 12th night (Jan. 6th) and ends on Fat Tuesday. The parade season in both Mobile and New Orleans begins 2 Wednesdays before Fat Tuesday with a parade(s) each day. Fat Tuesday’s date depends on the date of Easter, which is also different each year.