New Orleans: Mardi Gras

Ladies

Mardi Gras in New Orleans is only 

8 hours & some odd minutes away until kickoff!

I just love love love Mardi Gras...

One of my friends live there so I always go visit during this time :)

However, I am not going this year & its the first year that I have missed thus far since 4 years ago :( 

I cannot wait for all the pictures though that Danielle sends me because I know she will be right on Bourbon St for the whole entire event :)

Mardi Gras is a term for Carnival Season

French meaning Fat Tuesday

Mardi Gras 2012 is Tuesday 21

Traditional colors are : purple, gold, & green

Purple represents justice

Gold represents power

Green represents faith

Mardi Gras is music, parades, picnics, floats, excitement & one big holiday in New Orleans. Everyone wears purple, green, gold & adorned with long bead caught from the beautiful floats. During Mardi Gras all the businesses & roads are practically shut down. People walk everywhere meeting new people. They dress in crazy costumes & love it.

King cakes are a huge part of Mardi Gras tradtion. Its a special cake in honor of the 3 kings which makes its name the King Cake. Inside every cake is a tiny baby ( generally plastic now). They have King Cake Parties which have evolved through time, & the person who recieves the slice of cake with the baby is asked to continue the festivities by hosting the next King Cake Party. Originally the cakes were a simple ring of dough with a small amount of decoration but today the cakes are much more festive. After the rich danish dough is braided & baked  the baby is inserted  then the top of the ring or oval cake is then covered with sugar toppings matching purple, gold,& green. In more recent years some make stuffing & toppings for their with cream cheese & fruit fillings.