2007-01-13 21:42:29 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday") is the day before Ash Wednesday, and is also called "Shrove Tuesday" or "Pancake Day". It is the final day of Carnival It is a celebration that is held just before the beginning of the Christian liturgical season of Lent.
United States
While not observed nationally throughout the United States, a number of cities and regions in the country have notable celebrations.
Mardi Gras arrived in North America with the LeMoyne brothers, Iberville and Bienville, in the late 17th century, when King Louis XIV sent the pair to defend France's claim on the territory of Louisiana, which included Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
In 1702, Mobile, Alabama became the first capital of the territory of Louisiana. The first official celebration of Mardi Gras in North America occurred in Mobile in 1703. New Orleans, Louisiana is home to the nations largest Mardi Gras celebration.
Carnival celebrations became an annual event highlighted by lavish balls and masked spectacles. Some were small, private parties with select guest lists, while others were raucous, public affairs.
Lately Mardi Gras has been taken up by several cities in the U.S. as the event brings much needed revenue to city coffers.
New Orleans Mardi Gras is particularly well-known, often called "the greatest free show on earth". The celebrations draw hundreds of thousands of tourists to the city in addition to the celebrating locals for the parties and parades. Most tourists can be found within the French Quarter, especially Bourbon Street.
2007-01-13 21:47:11 · answer #1 · answered by KGJ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mardi Gras celebrations include New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro, Venice, Bahia, and Mazatlán. Many other places have important Mardi Gras celebrations as well. The carnival is an important celebration in most of Europe, and in many parts of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Mardi Gras arrived in North America with the LeMoyne brothers, Iberville and Bienville, in the late 17th century, when King Louis XIV sent the pair to defend France's claim on the territory of Louisiana, which included Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
In 1702, Mobile, Alabama became the first capital of the territory of Louisiana. The first official celebration of Mardi Gras in North America occurred in Mobile in 1703. New Orleans, Louisiana is home to the nations largest Mardi Gras celebration.
Carnival celebrations became an annual event highlighted by lavish balls and masked spectacles. Some were small, private parties with select guest lists, while others were raucous, public affairs.
Lately Mardi Gras has been taken up by several cities in the U.S. as the event brings much needed revenue to city coffers.
2007-01-13 21:49:06 · answer #2 · answered by Linda 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday. It's the day right before Ash Wednesday, which is also the start of Lent. It pretty much means people can indulge and binge and be gluttons before they have to give it all up for Lent.
2007-01-13 21:48:14 · answer #3 · answered by Becca 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A holiday for Lousianians to get drunk and flash the goods for cheap bead necklaces. And also to be caught on "Girls Gone Wild" by their creepy uncles.
2007-01-13 21:52:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the festival of shrove tuesday, according to my dictionary
2007-01-13 21:47:23 · answer #5 · answered by steven m 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
girls show off theyre titties for plastic beads in new orleans
2007-01-13 21:46:31 · answer #6 · answered by andyman_19 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its this day where you eat pancskes all day.
2007-01-14 00:54:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a gay party or parade
2007-01-13 21:46:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
boob fest with liquor in new orleans
2007-01-14 01:53:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
isnt that Spanish for thank you?
2007-01-13 21:47:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋