Mardi Gras At A Glance

Mardi Gras is an ancient custom that originated in southern Europe. It’s a colorful and exuberant celebration of food and fun just before the 40 days of Lent (a Catholic time of prayer and sacrifice). Brought to Louisiana by the French, it evolved in New Orleans from a simple carnival event into extravagant parades of ornamental floats with bands and ornately decorated masqueraders. Today, big cities and small towns throughout Louisiana enjoy lively festivities throughout the Carnival season, which can begin as early as two weeks before “Fat Tuesday.”

In rural Cajun towns, such as Mamou, Church Point and Eunice, they celebrate “Courir du Mardi Gras,” copied directly from old European tradition with some uniquely Louisiana twists. Masked horse riders travel the country roads stopping at designated homes where they perform dances and antics to win chickens, vegetables and other ingredients for a huge pot of gumbo everyone shares at the end of the day.

Another tempting Mardi Gras tradition is the King Cake. There are many varieties, but most consist of a cinnamon roll-style dough baked and topped with purple, green and gold sugar and a white icing. Hidden inside the dough is a plastic baby. Tradition demands the person who gets the baby must buy the next king cake.

Upcoming Mardi Gras dates

2010         February 16
2011         March 8
2012         February 21
2013         February 12
2014         March 4
2015         February 17
2016         February9
2017         February 28
2018         February 13
2019         March 5
2020         February 25