How Is Mardi Gras Celebrated?
Most people like the festive atmosphere. They enjoy music, good food, the company of their loved ones, giving and receiving gifts, among other things that this entails.
In fact, when certain times of the year arrive, most people tend to see themselves happier, more kind, more willing to reach agreements, more supportive, more understanding... Perhaps this is because they have been impregnated with the atmosphere that surrounds them.
And it is that the human being has the wonderful capacity to be adaptable. That is, if the situation is less favorable, they manage to get by as best they can, but if the circumstances are on their side, then they enjoy it and make the most of it, as this allows them to take a breather from the stressful situations they face day in and day out.
A time of the year that is considered very joyful, perhaps because of the music, the color that reigns in the surroundings, the dances or other traditional elements of the celebration, is Mardi Gras, also known as Shrove Tuesday.
It is true that, in many countries, this party tends to be a source of debauchery and commotion, but did you know that it was not originally like that? Do you know the meaning of this holiday? As it is celebrated?
If you are interested in investigating this topic, this is your lucky day, since this article has been written with those people with an overflowing curiosity, hunger and thirst for knowledge in mind.
So, in just a few minutes, you can be aware of everything related to this celebration, which has spread rapidly worldwide.
But, without further ado, let's start by talking about some instructions for celebrating Mardi grass.
Instructions for celebrating Mardi grass
Contrary to the conception that you may have, Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras has a religious origin. In fact, it is linked to another popular celebration; it is Easter, which recalls the death and subsequent resurrection of Jesus.
For people of faith, this is a moment of great joy, as it represents Jesus' victory over death. In addition, such death provides the opportunity to enjoy eternal life and a better personal relationship with God.
In order to prepare for Easter, Christians came up with another important date called Lent. That is, forty days before Easter, Christians pray, reflect, repent and fast. In this way they prepare to live what Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday mean.
In other words, Lent encourages people of faith to remember Jesus' death and celebrate his resurrection.
This brings us to the holiday that interests us. The day before Ash Wednesday is the last chance to enjoy delicious food, alcoholic beverages, or anything else that will be left behind for Lent. It is for this reason that Tuesday became famous and came to be known in English as Fat Tuesday and in French as Mardi grass.
Another name for this celebration is Carnival. The word Carnival comes from a Latin term whose meaning is "to remove the meat”. In turn, this phrase came to be related to the fast that was done during Lent. That is, it is not allowed to eat meat on this date.
Now, it is true that in the past this festival had a religious origin. However, people who participate in it today only use the festivals of that date to celebrate, dress up, enjoy the parades, eat and drink excessively and engage in improper and immoral behavior.
Today, Mardi grass is considered a party where anything goes. That is, those behaviors that are normally rejected by society are now tolerated and even willingly accepted. People give free rein to their darkest desires and intentions.
People who celebrate Mardi grass usually participate, or at least attend, the parades of allegorical floats that are organized. In these parades, both men and women dress up and dance to lively music.
In fact, Brazil is one of the most famous countries for its Carnival celebrations, which can last a whole week and, in them, it is customary to throw the house out the window. That is, it is celebrated in style.
The masks, the whistles and the compass are also characteristic of this festival and, as we pointed out before, it is also characterized as a festival of excesses, where everything goes and nothing is restricted.
Even in some countries, the mortality rate and the rate of those infected with sexually transmitted diseases, such as AIDS, rise considerably. That, without mentioning unwanted pregnancies and, therefore, abortions.
But what do you need to know about how Made Gras is celebrated? We will be dealing with that matter below.
What do you need to celebrate Mardi grass?
New Orleans is one of the most emblematic places where this celebration takes place. In fact, its population always doubles due to the large number of tourists who visit them. This year, the main events will be the following:
On Friday, February 21, during the night, you can see a large number of parades. These include the Crewe of Hermes and the satirical Crewe D’états parade. That, without counting all the small walls that will take place on the same day.
Saturday the 22nd will see the biggest parade of all, the Crewe of Edition.
On Sunday 23 you can see the Oceanus and Tooth during the day.
On Monday 24 a party will be organized throughout the day. Which will be sponsored by the kings of the Club Zulu de Beneficence y Pleasure and those of the Crewe of Rex rock? Who arrive at the banks of the Mississippi River, beginning Canal Street, and that is where the party will take place.
Finally, Tuesday, February 25, is the most anticipated day, Mardi grass. The celebrations will start very early this event ends when the kings of Rex and their “subjects”, the king and queen of the carnival and the king and queen of the Miskick Crewe of Comes meet.
Then, the police, riding horses, are in charge of clearing the street, and so the party says "Goodbye", until next year.
Tips for Celebrating Mardi grass
It is true that the vast majority of people get carried away by what others do. The atmosphere on Shrove Tuesday is so festive and cheerful that they can't control the way they act.
However, you don't necessarily have to celebrate it that way. It is important to remember what its true meaning is, what are behind the Mardi grass masks.
Of course, this will not be the most popular opinion. There will always be someone who points at you and makes you see that you are strange. But, you don't have to feel bad. You are not obliged to do as others do. You have your own criteria and your priority must be your well-being and that of your loved ones.
So is there an alternative way to celebrate Mardi grass? Of course yes! You can host a meal for family and friends. In addition, you can decorate your house with balloons, masks and other elements alluding to the party.
On the other hand, the guests must come dressed as the character they want. They will surely have a lot of fun and spend a Mardi Gras totally different from the previous ones.