Carnival, but more widely known as Mardi Gras, originated in the French colonies of the southern United States. In the late 17th century, the French King Louis XIV sent a group to protect the country’s claim to the territory of Louisiane, which currently consists of Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. Mardi Gras is now celebrated in other areas of the United States, but its most famous location is in New Orleans, Louisiana, due to the origin and growth it encountered from the French colonizers. The first celebration took place on March 3, 1699, just 60 miles from New Orleans.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans consists of floats, parades, music, decorations, costumes and masks. The parade is one of the main staples of the celebrations. Groups spend thousands of dollars and months of labor preparing their floats. Floats can consist of light-hearted themes such as animals, skeletons, jesters and celebrities. Occasionally, the float-builders incorporate political undertones or satirical pieces based on society and culture. It is estimated that about half a million people attend this parade each year. Another famous event is the Masquerada Ball, where all attendees are required to wear masks to hide their identity.
“Fat Tuesday” is the English translation of the French word “Mardi Gras.” It consists of the tradition of eating very rich and fatty foods to prepare for the fasting of Lent. “Fat Tuesday” comes from the Christian calendar that allows for this activity the day before Ash Wednesday. In the United States, the most common food is a paczki, which is deep-fried dough with filling inside. Paczki came from the Poland immigrants and is still being consumed today.
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