MARDI

GRAS

MARIELLE MARIZ P. GAZA

Originated thousands of years ago as a pagan holiday of spring and fertility rites.

( Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia.)

ORIGIN OF MARDI GRAS

Celebrated by Catholics the day before Lent. It is the day when people indulge themselves in all the

foods they will not be eating during the 40 day period of lent.

Conti.

1ST APPEARANCE IN U.S. Mardi Gras arrived in North America as a French Catholic Tradition tradition with the Le

Moyne brothers, Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, in the late 17th century, when King Louis XIV sent the pair to defend France's claim on the territory of Louisiane.

March 3, 1699 , The party proceeded upstream to a place on the east bank about 60 miles downriver from where New Orleans is today, and made camp,in honor of this holiday, Iberville named the spot Point du Mardi Gras (French: "Mardi Gras Point") .

Had street parties, masked balls, and lavish dinners

Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville

Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville

King Louis XIV

1857 A secret society of New Orleans businessmen called

the Mistick Krewe of Comus started the tradition of incorporating marching bands and rolling floats. Later krewes introduced throwing beads, wearing masks, and King Cake which are now part of Mardi Gras.

Floats

Any decorated, movable platform for carrying Carnival maskers.

What is Fat Tuesday? Mardi Gras is a French word which means "Fat

Tuesday". The date can fall between February 3 and March 9

depending on the Lunar calendar, used by the Catholic Church to determine the date of Easter. Mardi Gras is always 47 days before Easter Sunday.

Mardi Tuesday

Gras Fat

The official colors for Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. These colors were chosen in 1872 by the King of Carnival, Rex. He chose these colors to stand

for the following: PURPLE represents JUSTICE

GREEN stands for FAITH

GOLD stands for POWER

The Wearing Of Masks Masks are an integral part of Mardi Gras culture. During early Mardi Gras celebrations hundreds of

years ago, masks were a way for their wearers to escape class constraints and social demands. Mask wearers could mingle with people of all different classes and could be whomever they desired, at least for a few days.