Why is carnival celebrated only in New Orleans when it is celebrated throughout most of the rest of the world?

Question

sorry I meant in the united states its basically only celebrated in New orleans while it is such a big event in a majority of other countries.

I asked the question because in the US I dare say we only associate mardi gras with new orleans. While its festive counterpart is carnival, most other countries which have christian citizens also mark it as beginning of lent. Thats why im asking why is it not celebrated more in US when we tend to overcelebrate most holidays?

It is not a catholic only holiday, other religions celebrate lent. And it is not related exclusively to the french--look at south america, italy,greece,etc. im asking why specifically this holiday is not as popular in the US widespread since every other holdiay is overcommercialized.

Answer 1

I dunno, lets start carnivals elsewhere!:)

Answer 2

Mardi gras is celebrated wherever there is a large French or French-descended population, and the equivalent, Carnivale, is celebrated in many places where there is a large Spanish or Portugese population, or one descended from them.

The unique history of Louisiana is that the US purchased it from Napolean, and the French (and Acadian) culture persisted enough to make these great old traditions.

Elsewhere in North America, French Catholics have faced extreme persecution even when they were a majority, so the festivals have become muted or gone away.

In some other places, St. Patrick's day has pretty much become the equivalent. As you might suspect, these places have more folk of Irish extraction.

Lastly, as Catholicism declines in the English-speaking world, the festivals of it will either change or go away. In the case of New Orlean's Mardi-gras, it has changed to be much more a celebration of culture, food and drink than a Catholic feast.

Answer 3

Huh? It's not. It's celebrated throughout most of the world. It's basically a Catholic celebration prior to lent. Some places just take it over the top, such as Rio and New Orleans and in doing so, take the religious connotation away.

Answer 4

New Orleans just has a good publicity department. They pretty much over do it to the point of debauchery so it gets a lot of media attention.
Mardi Gras is celebrated in many other parts of the world, its a day of celebration before Ash Wednesday begins which is a day of fast and abstinence. Some places call it Shrove Tuesday and even Pancake Day ...where you use up your eggs and butter so there is no temptations to eat on the fasting days.

Answer 5

If you look at your question again, you'll see that it contains an internal contradiction. How can carnival be celebrated only in New Orleans when it is celebrated throughout most of the rest of the world?

Answer 6

Galveston has an awesome Mardi Gras celebration. Several parades (even nice clean one's for the kids) and events for about 2 weeks.

Answer 7

new orleans isn't the only city that celebrates mardi gras. biloxi, ms, mobile, al, baton rouge, la are just a few. and in south america many cities in brazil celebrate also. i'm lucky enough to live right outside of new orleans and i'm headed out soon!
laissez bon temps roule!!!

Answer 8

New Orleans is televised more often than the other locations where the celebrations are taking place.

They have better press agents.

Answer 9

Sure....Try it else where if you dare. Just cram 10 million people in downtown Peoria, get them all really drunk, and throw things at them from trucks. New Orleans has a Police Dept. that is trained at handling crowds like that.

Answer 10

Do you not see the inherent contradiction in your question?

Carnival IS celebrated throughout the world - therefore it is NOT celebrated ONLY in New Orleans.

And that is the answer to your question -