What Is Mardi Gras, And How Is It Celebrated?
Mardi Gras is one of the oldest and most celebrated traditions in the world. It originated in the Middle Ages in Europe and has since spread to countries around the world. Mardi Gras, also known as Carnival, is a festive period of fun and celebration that occurs before the start of Lent, a time of fasting and repentance in the Christian calendar.
So what exactly is Mardi Gras and how is it celebrated? Here’s a look at this timeless tradition, the history and culture behind it, and some of the most popular celebrations around the world.
A Brief History of Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras has its roots in Europe, dating back to medieval times. It was initially celebrated by Christians who were preparing to observe Lent and spend a period of abstention before Easter. The tradition of Mardi Gras spread as travelers and Immigos brought it to other parts of the world, eventually becoming an important part of Carnival celebrations in many countries.
The most iconic celebration of Mardi Gras is the one in New Orleans, Louisiana. The city of New Orleans is the birthplace of the American Mardi Gras. The first observances date back to the early 1700s when French settlers brought the tradition to Louisiana.
Traditional Customs and Celebrations
Mardi Gras is celebrated in cities and towns around the world with a variety of customs, parties, and parades. It’s important to note that different traditions have formed in different countries and regions; however, the core concepts of fun and enjoyment remain the same.
In France, Mardi Gras is celebrated by families and close groups of friends. Many locals dress up in costumes and take part in lively parades and feasts. The French also enjoy special treats called ‘Carnival king cakes,’ while in other parts of Europe people wear masks and hold masquerade balls.
In the United States, Mardi Gras festivities are most famously celebrated in New Orleans. The city is home to the oldest of America’s Mardi Gras celebrations and is the inspiration for many of the other events across the country.
In the U.S., the biggest Mardi Gras celebrations are held in cities like New Orleans, New York City, Mobile, Alabama, and St. Louis, Missouri. Each place marks Mardi Gras in their own way, but there are some common features to all of the festivities.
A central part of Mardi Gras celebrations is a parade where revelers (people taking part in the festivities) Dress in costumes and masks, parade floats, musicians and performers line the streets, and beads and doubloons (coins) are thrown from the parade floats to the crowds. In New Orleans, parades begind two weeks prior to Mardi Gras.
Additionally, in American cities, the parties are heightened with the blends of jazz, funk, and soul music; dance performances; plays, and special foods such as king cakes and po’boys.
Rituals of Mardi Gras
In many countries, Mardi Gras celebrations are also accompanied by various rituals and superstitions. In France, revelers light candles on Epiphany to bring luck in the new year. It’s also customary to burn an effigy of someone who symbolically represents all of the things people want to forget.
In Germany and Austria, on the eve of Mardi Gras, it’s traditional to burn a straw-filled figure of a man, called “Fasnacht-man.” This ritual symbolizes the end of winter and is meant to bring good luck in the new year.
In Haiti, a combination of Roman Catholic and West African Vodou rituals are held on the eve of Mardi Gras. In the Caribbean islands, people perform a combination of dancing and divination known as Jule Boula. They believe this ritual lights the way for a better future.
In some parts of the United States, particularly in the South, it’s customary to “flip the bird.” This involves flipping a bird, like a chicken or a dove, in a circle of people. It’s believed that the person who flips the bird is blessed with good fortune during the new year.
Modern Celebrations of Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras is now celebrated in many cities around the world. Some of the largest events occur in Brazil, where millions of people take part in parades, parties, and celebrations as they wait for the day of Lent, Ash Wednesday.
In some parts of the United States, cities create special events and parades to mark the occasion. Cities like San Diego, California, organize Mardi Gras celebrations in the Gaslamp Quarter and on Beale Street, while Galveston, Texas, hosts an annual Mardi Gras Grand Parade.
Mardi Gras is one of the oldest and most beloved festival times around the world. Its roots can be traced back to medieval Europe, and its customs and traditions have become an irreplaceable part of countless cultures around the globe.
Be it the masked parades in France, the masquerade balls of Europe, or the vibrant dances of Haiti, Mardi Gras is a celebration that always promises fun and festivities. All around the world, people honor this ancient rite with feasts, parades, costumes, and music.
Whether you choose to attend a large-scale event or celebrate with your local community, Mardi Gras is a time for merriment and joy. So break out the costumes and Mardi Gras beads, and join in the celebrations.