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Mardi Gras New Orleans: Beads, Necklaces, Masks And Costumes
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Published: March 20, 2007
Brightly colored costumes, blaring music, drinks flowing, and laughter are some of the few things that can be seen and heard during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. This particular New Orleans carnival is an experience that will not soon be forgotten by anyone who attends.
Mardi Gras has a long history.
The holiday is generally connected with the season of Lent in which people give up pleasures for a 40 days. The carnival season associated with Mardi Gras begins on January 6th. What most people know as Mardi Gras is actually the last two weeks of the New Orleans Carnival season. It is at this time that the festivities begin to kick in to high gear.
Mardi Gras, which actually means Fat Tuesday, is specifically the day before Lent starts. The festivities are characterized by upbeat jazz music filled with saxophones and drums. The floats are generally brightly colored, shiny, and adorned with streamers. The entertainment is rather laid back, like New Orleans, with street performers and impromptu dance and singing performances.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans has become a popular event for both tourists and locals because of the time and care put into the festivities. The parade routes are carefully planned out so that everybody is able to get a glimpse of the elaborate event. Because of its popularity, the parade has changed its route over the past years. It now travels down St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street instead of the infamous Bourbon Street and French Quarter However, there are other activities featured on Bourbon Street and the French Quarter that include clowns, face painting, street performers, drinking, and general celebrations.
Even though Mardi Gras in New Orleans has become popular because of their purple, green, and gold floats, it's the beads and necklaces that still grabs people. Mardi Gras beads and Mardi Grad necklaces have been thrown from floats since the early 19th century. Originally, the necklaces featured expensive glass beads, which people were less inclined to throw out. Mardi Gras necklaces changed in the 1970's to the cheap, colorful plastic beads. Because they were so cheap, more were bought and thrown into the crowd. Today, plastic beads are still thrown, but the most popular necklaces are the kind with more elaborate beads featuring large animals.
Other popular staples are costumes and masks. Mardi Gras costumes and masks are usually adorned by the people who put on the celebration, known as krewes. However, on the last day of Mardi Gras non-krew members can be seen donning costumes and masks. The costumes and masks include many designs from abstract designs for krew members to just about anything imaginable for non-krew members. The costumes are always bright and mainly feature the purple, green, and gold colors.
New Orleans Mardi Gras is an exciting celebration. The colorful costumes and masks, vibrant performers and speakers, and beautiful floats make this New Orleans carnival season unforgettable. Don't forget to make plans early, because New Orleans is one of the most popular destinations for those two weeks in January.
Sources:
"New Orleans Mardi Gras." Wikipedia. 13 Mar. 2007. 13 Mar. 2007. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans_Mardi _Gras>.
Mardi Gras. New Orleans Net LLC. 2007. 13 Mar. 2007. <http://www.mardigras.com/>.
Mardi Gras has a long history.
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Mardi Gras, which actually means Fat Tuesday, is specifically the day before Lent starts. The festivities are characterized by upbeat jazz music filled with saxophones and drums. The floats are generally brightly colored, shiny, and adorned with streamers. The entertainment is rather laid back, like New Orleans, with street performers and impromptu dance and singing performances.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans has become a popular event for both tourists and locals because of the time and care put into the festivities. The parade routes are carefully planned out so that everybody is able to get a glimpse of the elaborate event. Because of its popularity, the parade has changed its route over the past years. It now travels down St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street instead of the infamous Bourbon Street and French Quarter However, there are other activities featured on Bourbon Street and the French Quarter that include clowns, face painting, street performers, drinking, and general celebrations.
Even though Mardi Gras in New Orleans has become popular because of their purple, green, and gold floats, it's the beads and necklaces that still grabs people. Mardi Gras beads and Mardi Grad necklaces have been thrown from floats since the early 19th century. Originally, the necklaces featured expensive glass beads, which people were less inclined to throw out. Mardi Gras necklaces changed in the 1970's to the cheap, colorful plastic beads. Because they were so cheap, more were bought and thrown into the crowd. Today, plastic beads are still thrown, but the most popular necklaces are the kind with more elaborate beads featuring large animals.
Other popular staples are costumes and masks. Mardi Gras costumes and masks are usually adorned by the people who put on the celebration, known as krewes. However, on the last day of Mardi Gras non-krew members can be seen donning costumes and masks. The costumes and masks include many designs from abstract designs for krew members to just about anything imaginable for non-krew members. The costumes are always bright and mainly feature the purple, green, and gold colors.
New Orleans Mardi Gras is an exciting celebration. The colorful costumes and masks, vibrant performers and speakers, and beautiful floats make this New Orleans carnival season unforgettable. Don't forget to make plans early, because New Orleans is one of the most popular destinations for those two weeks in January.
Sources:
"New Orleans Mardi Gras." Wikipedia. 13 Mar. 2007. 13 Mar. 2007. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans_Mardi _Gras>.
Mardi Gras. New Orleans Net LLC. 2007. 13 Mar. 2007. <http://www.mardigras.com/>.
