Mardi Gras
Pre-Lenten revelry
Mardi Gras is the day before Ash Wednesday, the last chance for indulgence before the fasting season of Lent.
The French name means "Fat Tuesday"—a day to use up rich foods.
In New Orleans, Mardi Gras has become a weeks-long carnival of parades, masked balls, and street revelry: We're going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
The term often refers to the entire festival season, not just the single day.
Spiced Louisiana stew
- jambalayaSpicy Louisiana rice dish
- po'boyCrusty Louisiana sandwich
- muffulettaItalian-American stuffed round loaf
- étoufféeCajun smothered shellfish dish
beignets · crawfish · pralines · Cajun · Creole · Sazerac · Hurricane · red beans
Remains on surface
- marching bandsMobile musical ensembles
- throwsPropels through air
- second lineSupporting vocal line
- grand marshalCeremonial procession leader
procession · brass bands · drumlines · baton twirlers · spectators · street performers · fanfare · confetti
Ornaments encircling the throat
- throwsPropels through air
- doubloonsHistorical Spanish gold currency
- trinketsMinor decorative objects
- purpleHue between crimson and azure
green · gold · strand · plastic · collectibles · medallions · cups · souvenirs
Noisy, lively celebration
- festivityCelebratory occasion or mood
- partyGathering for celebration
- jubilationIntense, expressive happiness
- gaietyLively, exuberant cheerfulness
merrymaking · carousing · bacchanal · feasting · dance · music · indulgence · excess
Early New Orleans jazz
- brass bandsMusical groups of metallic instruments
- jazzImprovisational American music genre
- second lineSupporting vocal line
- accordionBellows-driven reed instrument
washboard · Cajun · bounce · funk · parade · street · horns · drums
Pre-Lent confession and feasting
- LentChristian fasting season
- Ash WednesdayLent's opening day
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
- indulgenceYielding to desire
Catholic · penance · season · Rex · Zulu · courts · kings · queens
gumbo
Spiced Louisiana stew
- jambalayaSpicy Louisiana rice dish
- po'boyCrusty Louisiana sandwich
- muffulettaItalian-American stuffed round loaf
étouffée · beignets · crawfish · pralines · Cajun · Creole · Sazerac · Hurricane · red beans · boudin
floats
Remains on surface
- marching bandsMobile musical ensembles
- throwsPropels through air
- second lineSupporting vocal line
grand marshal · procession · brass bands · drumlines · baton twirlers · spectators · street performers · fanfare · confetti · streamers
necklaces
Ornaments encircling the throat
purple · green · gold · strand · plastic · collectibles · medallions · cups · souvenirs · tossing
revelry
Noisy, lively celebration
- festivityCelebratory occasion or mood
- partyGathering for celebration
- jubilationIntense, expressive happiness
gaiety · merrymaking · carousing · bacchanal · feasting · dance · music · indulgence · excess · debauchery
Dixieland
Early New Orleans jazz
- brass bandsMusical groups of metallic instruments
- jazzImprovisational American music genre
- second lineSupporting vocal line
accordion · washboard · Cajun · bounce · funk · parade · street · horns · drums · dancing
Shrove Tuesday
Pre-Lent confession and feasting
- LentChristian fasting season
- Ash WednesdayLent's opening day
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
indulgence · Catholic · penance · season · Rex · Zulu · courts · kings · queens · debutantes
masquerade
Deceptive act or costume party
- venetianHorizontal slatted window shade
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
- sequinsSmall reflective fabric ornaments
glitter · harlequin · jester · papier-mâché · elaborate · ornate · decorative · lace · anonymity · incognito
sequins
Small reflective fabric ornaments
sash · glitter · elaborate · corset · gown · tutu · bodysuit · makeup · wings · tiara
- Carnivals
- American traditionsFourth of July, Thanksgiving, county fair, state fair, rodeo
- cultural celebrationscultural festival, ethnic festival, folk festival, cultural fair, fiesta
- Cultural FestivalsChinese New Year, Diwali, Oktoberfest, Holi, Day of the Dead
- folk festivalsBeltane, Samhain, maypole, Midsummer, Harvest Festival
- LouisianaNew Orleans, Baton Rouge, Bourbon Street, Shreveport, French Quarter
Mardi GrasAsh Wednesday
Lent's opening day
Lent · Good Friday · Holy Week · Advent · Yom Kippur
Mardi Grasfuneral
Service honoring the dead
wake · memorial service · requiem mass · requiem · state funeral
Mardi Grasabstinence
Voluntary forgoing of indulgences
austerity · silent retreat · asceticism · self-denial · temperance