Mardi Gras 2010

By: Beth Elliott

For most people Mardi Gras is about the parades, floats, elaborate costumes, masked balls, people dancing in the streets and the handing out of beads. However, according to history.com, Mardi Gras, or Shrove Tuesday, is celebrated by the French as the last of the three days of Shrovetide. It is a time of preparation immediately before Ash Wednesday and the start of the fast of Lent. Mardi Gras is the last opportunity for the indulgence in food and drink. The festival is generally celebrated for one full week before Lent.

Mardi Gras came to America in 1699 with the French explorer Iberville (according to eastjeffersonparish.com). Iberville sailed into the Gulf of Mexico, where he launched his expedition up the Mississippi River. On March 3 of 1699, Iberville had set up camp on the west bank of the river about 60 miles south of where New Orleans is today. This was the day Mardi Gras was being celebrated in France. In honor of this important day, Iberville named the site Point du Mardi Gras.

While New Orleans was under the rule of France they celebrated Marti Gras. When the Spanish took over reign, the custom was banned. Then in 1803 New Orleans was under the U.S. flag and the custom was banned until 1823 when the governor was convinced to permit masked balls again.

It was in 1837 when a group of people in costumes walked in the first ever documented "parade" (according to www.neworleansonline.com). However, after two decades of the violent behavior of people who dressed in costumes caused the press to call for an end to Mardi Gras.

In 1857 six men who belonged to the Cowbellians (a group that had presented the New Year's Eve parade in 1831) saved Mardi Gras by forming the Comus organization. Comus also known as "krewe" established several Mardi Gras traditions by forming a secret Carnival society by choosing a mythological namesake, presenting a themed parade with floats and costumed maskers and staging a ball.

Mardi Gras this year falls on February 16, it changes every year, however is always 46 days before Easter.

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