What is Mardi Gras all About?

For those who may not know what the party is all about:
Mardi Gras ( Fat Tuesday ) is a celebration that came to this country from the Catholic French settlers back in the 5th. Century. Most people think that Mardi Gras is all about parades and beads, which came from the New Orleans Mardi Gras. But the Mardi Gras that I know, was a more simpler celebration which dates back before New Orleans got hold of it.
First,, one must understand the history of the Cajun people. They were French settlers, who migrated to Nova Scotia and were sent into exile by the British King in 1755. They brought with them, the tradition of Mardi Gras. In the old days, the Mardi Gras ( masked riders ) would ride by horse back through the country side, from farm to farm, demanding the charity ( begging ) for the ingredients to make the evening meal. These riders would be made up of the men from the community, but always from the “hub” ( the center ). After gathering the food, they would bring it all to a central location, where the meal would be prepared. Then all the community would gather at that central location, to celebrate as family, friends, and neighbors, one last indulgence before Lent began on Ash Wednesday.
They would eat, drink, and play music and dance.
And what about the “King Cake”? What’s the story behind it? Well, first of all, it’s not a traditional cake. It’s made out of pastry dough instead of cake mix. It’s round with a hole in the middle, like a kings crown. But this crown would be more like a pour man’s crown instead of a king? But, it is decorated with colored icing, the Mardi Gras colors, purple, green and gold. These colors have a meaning behind them. Purple stands for loyalty. Green is for faith, and gold is for prosperity. So, we have a pour man’s cake, in the shape of a crown, decorated finely with the colors of Mardi Gras. And hidden inside of the cake is a small figure of a baby. How does all this come together to be a “King Cake” ? Who is the King that we celebrate? That would be Jesus, the King of salvation, born into this world as a small baby. So should you happen to find the “Baby” in your piece of King Cake, know that you have been blessed by Jesus !

It is this reason that we celebrate. To indulge one last time, before we commit ourselves to 40 days of reverence and penance, in honor of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.
And now that you know the true meaning of the celebration,

Happy Mardi Gras to you my friends

Thanks Jude for the information about Mardi Gras.
Our country is divided by some rivers and we have above(more protestant) and under(more catholic)the rivers. And the south part of our country celebrates also Carnaval and Fat Tuesday is a part of it. Here it starts in the weekend before Fat Tuesday and the ones with the longest breath are celebrating it for four or five days. Nowadays it's also a touristic event for people from other parts of the country and for many people it has nothing to do with religion. It's only the party that matters.
A big different between yours and ours is the music, because we have the humpapa and you have Cajun Music there [ .

Thanks, Jude. I used much of what you said at a gig last night, to explain the difference in the New Orleans and Lafayette Mardis Gras.

Hope you had a good one!

Still feel sorry for the chickens... -L-

You aren't the only one...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn3GJWI1Saw

Hilarant.

Marc.

Thanks for that Jude! The meaning seems to get lost, even down here amongst family and friends born and raised here. It has become more "pagan" than Christian in years past. Whatever one's faith, at least know why we do it. Peace be with you man!

Well, hold my beer and watch this, here's the deal, about 4 years ago, we lost our Mardi Gras parade in Pecaniere, because the 18,19,20ish year olds thought it was all about getting drunk as fast as you can, then fall off their horse or the back of a float and **** near get killed. They had no clue what it's really about. The other think that burnt my toast, is here where I live, they have a huge Mardi Gras in downtown Port Arthur, Tx. I starts on Thursday and concludes on Sunday. So here, Mardi Gras OVER on Sunday. WRONG people. Mardi Gras hasn't even happened yet. It's Fat TUESDAY, not Thurs. Friday, Saturday or Sunday, but TUESDAY, the day before Ash Wednesday. I just felt these fools out there needed to know what the party was all about. Ok, I'll get off the soap box now, give me back my beer. Oh, I forgot, I gave up drinking for Lent

They don't want to give you Texans the two extra days off is why

Wow, Thanks a bunch for all that info Jude

I would have never known it was all started with/in a religious context... I been there quite a few times when younger. Never entered my mind..

To which I ask..

Where do the Cajun/Louisiana 'Indians' with the feather/bead costumes come into the picture..

Can anyone explain this.

tnx
Johnniez