Let's learn about the fabulous, wild, and fun holiday of South Louisiana, U.S.A.   ~~~ Mardi Gras!

It's Carnival Season! Time for Mardi Gras Vocabulary!

French for "Fat Tuesday."
It is a festive day celebrated on Shrove Tuesday (the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday), which marks the close of the pre-Lenten season.

a festive cake made of Danish dough, cinnamon, glaze topping, colorful sprinkles, complete with a plastic baby figurine hidden inside.

a Latin word that translates to "a farewell to meat." Carnival refers to the Mardi Gras season as a whole, beginning on King's Day and ending on Ash Wednesday.

a Mardi Gras ball is a special event parades host prior to rolling. They are similar to galas and often feature presentations of the royal court, dancing and costumes.

a common Mardi Gras throw. They are large coins, usually made out of aluminum and painted flashy colors.

the group of people who ride in, create, fund and execute parades.

the materials riders throw to parade watchers. Beads, cups, doubloons, boas, stuffed animals, food and toys are common throws.  "Throw me something, mister!"

Floats are large, moving stages that are decorated beautifully (and outrageously)! These floats are used in parades.

Costumes are clothing that are outrageous, colorful, or in the form of a famous person. In the U.S., we wear costumes for Halloween . . . and sometimes for Mardi Gras!

Beads are small, (usually round) pieces of plastic that are joined together to make a necklace.