Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is a tradition that originated in France and is known for colorful beads, parades, King Cake, and much more. The roots of Mardi Gras go a lot deeper than just these fun traditions, and it has spread to some parts of America. Mardi Gras is an exciting tradition that is celebrated across the globe, so don’t miss out!

Mardi Gras actually has deep religious roots. When Mardi Gras is celebrated depends on Easter, as it is always the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. In the past, it was tradition for Christians to fast for 40 days during Lent, and consequently, Mardi Gras or “Fat Tuesday” was their last opportunity to relish in all the rich, fatty foods. It is also part of the ancient seasonal festivals. 

The key parts that make Mardi Gras special include the colors, King Cake, krewes, and parades. The colors of Mardi Gras are Purple, Green, and Gold. Purple represents justice, Green represents faith, and Gold represents power. You can find these colors on the beads that are thrown around the parades. The Infamous King Cake is a colorful cake that has a tiny plastic baby hidden inside. Whoever finds the baby in their slice is King! The krewes are the groups that dedicate time to decorating floats for the parades. 

French explorers brought this fun tradition of their culture to America. The first time it was celebrated in the United States was in 1699, near present-day New Orleans, Louisiana. This is why New Orleans is most famous for its Mardi Gras celebrations and parades. New Orleans is not the only city in America that indulges in Mardi Gras, as Mobile, Alabama, Galveston, Texas, and St. Louis, Missouri also host major celebrations. In fact, Mardi Gras has been a tradition in Mobile, Alabama, since 1703, and it actually holds the title for the oldest organized Mardi Gras in the U.S.
Mardi Gras has also spread internationally to Brazil,  some parts of the Caribbean, and various other European countries. In Brazil, Rio de Janeiro hosts what is known as the largest Carnival in the world, infamous for its Samba schools and massive stadium parades. Despite its name, Samba schools have nothing to do with a traditional school; it is a massive, community-based organizations that include a large drum section, elaborate costumes, thousands of participants flowing together, and a lead couple who carries the school’s official flag. It is a high-stakes competition as the schools are judged on several categories. 

Some French classes in Parkland High School also take part in the Mardi Gras. French teacher at the high school, Madam Boudart, exclaimed, “In past years, we ate King Cake, wore beads, and learned about the culture behind the celebration.” She added, “Hiding the tiny, plastic baby in the cake and waiting to see which student gets it in their slice of cake is my favorite part.” 

Now that you have learned the deep cultural roots and traditions of Mardi Gras, you too can celebrate next year. Who knows, maybe you will be King!