Traditions Of Mardi Gras

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Mardi Gras Essay, Research Paper It s marvelous, magical, mirthful, magnificent. It s Mardi Gras. After Christmas each year, the people of southern Louisiana begin their celebration of Carnival, an exuberant explosion of parades and parties that reaches its grand climax on Mardi Gras. Many people think that Mardi Gras is just another name for Carnival, but the terms have different meanings. Mardi Gras, which is French for Fat Tuesday , refers to only one day. Carnival, on the other hand, refers to the entire period from Twelfth Night (January 6) until midnight on Mardi Gras. Because Mardi Gras comes exactly forty-six days before Easter, it can fall on any Tuesday from February 3 to March 9. This year it is on February 11. Mardi Gras is not just something to watch, it s something to be part of. You can pretend to be someone different and live a fantasy for a day. It s a time for children and grown-ups alike. An entire family can dress crazy and not stand out in a crowd. It s a time for people of all ages, races, and religions to come together in a spirit of goodwill. When people celebrate Mardi Gras, they are carrying on a tradition that dates back to ancient times. Spring festivals were held to ensure the fertility of animals and crops. Mardi Gras came to America when some hardy French explorers landed near the mouth of the Mississippi River in 1699. Their leader, Pierre le Moyne, Sieur d Iberville, noticed that it was March 3. Back home, people were celebrating Mardi Gras, so he named the spot Pointe du Mardi Gras in honor of the day. By the time Spain took possession of Louisiana in 1766, Mardi Gras was an established tradition . But the Spanish banned the custom of wearing masks on the street, and Mardi Gras was driven indoors where it was celebrated privately by the Creoles (the descendants of early French and Spanish settlers). In 1803,

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