TODAY'S BEST MIX » mardi gras

Mardi Gras 2011 in New Orleans

Tony Hart — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:47:19 +0000

Thousands of revelers turned out for Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans on Monday and Tuesday, including celebrities like recent Oscar-winner Melissa Leo, actress Jennifer Coolidge, and creator of “The Wire” and the NOLA-set “Treme” David Simon.

5 Mardi Gras Party Ideas (If You Can't Make it to Bourbon Street)

Tony Hart — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 19:35:01 +0000

Stuck at home for Mardi Gras this year and want to make it more special than ordering Cajun shrimp pasta at Red Lobster? Try these tips: 1. Bake a king cake King cakes (the traditional treat of Mardi Gras) can look like unicorn poop with their multicolored toppings, but the sugary dessert is beloved by [...]

Know Your Mardi Gras History [VIDEO]

Tony Hart — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:50:58 +0000

Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday," a reference to the binge eating a lot of Catholics do before Lent. As is often the case with holidays, the Christian roots are intertwined with earlier pagan practices. It was very common for early church fathers to integrate elements of pagan ritual in an attempt to attract potential converts.

Mardi Gras itself originated in the Middle Ages and was brought to the U.S. by the French explorer Iberville. In 1827, Parisian-style masked balls were legalized in New Orleans after a long period of prohibition. The celebration soon became known for its celebrants' raucous behavior during fanciful parades.