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Articles and Products of History America's Largest Party, Mardi GrasHow many people have been fortunate enough to attend Mardi gras in New Orleans Louisiana?
The image of thousands of people crowding the Bourbon section of town runs through most of our minds. Who can forget the beads strung around young ladies necks. The very popular tradition of bearing one self for a string of beads is a fairly recent tradition starting approximately fifty years ago. It is not sure who was the first to bear their chest but it is generally accepted the practice was established in the period of free love during the 1960s The history of Mardi gras is rich with references to the early explorers and their French heritage. Early French explorers first came to New Orleans in the late sixteen hundreds. Being far from home the early settlers wanted a celebration to bring all the people from the countryside into the city. This was done to help establish New Orleans as a major port city and also to spur on trading amongst the Native Americans and the French trappers. The term Mardi gras translated is Fat Tuesday. Each year the festival starts forty-seven days prior to Easter Sunday. Each year the date for Easter is determined by the lunar calendar. The Mardi gras season usually starts on or about January sixth and will continue until the day before Ash Wednesday. Originally Mardi Gras was a celebration to gather distant friends and family together to trade eat and drink. Today the festival remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in America. It is estimated over ten percent of Louisianas state income is derived during the festival. If you have not had the opportunity to attend Mardi gras we highly suggest making the trip. A few tips, make sure you keep your wallet in your front pocket and also drink responsibly. Mardi Gras has a rich history and you can be part of it. Further Reading
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