Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana
Often dubbed “The Greatest Free Show on Earth”, New Orleans’ Mardi Gras and the season that surrounds it is like nothing else celebrated in the U.S. Marked by numerous parties, parades, and other social activities, it’s the highlight of the year for many New Orleans area residents and this giant party attracts tourists from all corners of the Earth.
Mardi Gras is actually a season, commencing on January 6th, which is known to some as Twelfth Night, King’s Day, or Epiphany. Traditionally, in Christian religions, it is the day that the Three Wise Men supposedly arrived to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus. In New Orleans, it marks the start of an approximately five-week run of merriment, and many locals celebrate with King’s Cake parties, enjoying this popular colorful cake that has a plastic baby tucked inside. (Whoever finds the baby is chosen to host the next party.)
The first several weeks of Mardi Gras consist of mostly private balls that are not open to the general public. These are invitation-only events that are hosted by the city’s “krewes”, the private clubs that will eventually make their way down the street for one or more of the parades held during Mardi Gras season. The public portion of Mardi Gras truly begins about two weeks before Ash Wednesday, which makes the end of all the revelry.
Mardi Gras is believed to have had its start in the very early 18th century though Mardi Gras – or Fat Tuesday – became an official event in 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII put it on the calendar and dubbed it a Christian holiday. In the U.S., different religions celebrate Fat Tuesday – sometimes called Shrove Tuesday – in a variety of ways, but no one quite does it like New Orleans.
Parades became part of the festivities in 1838 with a procession of masked figures making their way down the streets of the city. Today, there are more than 60 parades connected to the Mardi Gras holiday, though most people identify Mardi Gras with the ones that are held on Fat Tuesday.
Mardi Gras, for the most part, is a rowdy and raucous event and one generally not meant to be observed by small children. The music is loud and the drink flows freely. During parades, those on the sidelines, often scantily clad, are rewarded with “throws”, which include green, purple, and gold beads, plastic throw cups, doubloons (wooden coins), and small toys. Many krewe members don costumes and masks, ride aboard floats, and entertain the crowds with their antics. On Mardi Gras Day, many government offices and banks close down, though restaurants and retail establishments do a brisk business.
While Mardi Gras is certainly a celebratory time, many
locals avoid the most crowded areas of the city during that time, namely the
French Quarter, as the festivities there have been known to get quite rowdy
and sometimes violent. Nudity is not unusual – women are encouraged to bear
their breasts in exchange for beads and other trinkets – and pickpockets
regularly make quite a catch during Mardi Gras events, catching unsuspecting
tourists off-guard. While the event is a memorable experience, it’s
essential to exercise caution when attending these public festivities.
Return to New Orleans Travel Guide Home Page