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The History of Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" in French and is celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday
as a last "fling" prior to the 40 days of Lent which precede Easter. Lent is a word that comes
from the Middle English word "lente" which means "springtime" - so named for the season of
the year in which it usually occurs. Historically, Lenten fasting became mandatory, especially
abstinence from eating meat. The word "carnival" comes from an old Italian word that means
to "go without meat" or "removal of meat." Festivals like Mardi Gras sprang up throughout parts
of Europe as a means to prepare for the coming times of self-denial. The three days before
Ash Wednesday is also known as "Shrovetide," where shrove is an Old English word meaning
"to repent." In England, the Tuesday just before Ash Wednesday is called Shrove Tuesday and
is celebrated by eating of rich food, that won't be used during Lent.
Mardi Gras was first celebrated in North America in 1699. Pierre LeMoyne D'Iberville and his
band of French explorers were camping near a bayou at the mouth of the Mississippi river.
Being homesick, they remembered it was Mardi Gras time back home. So, they
opened a bottle of wine, toasted to the king of France, and named their campsite "Bayou de
Mardi Gras."
Mobile was actually the first city on the Gulf Coast to celebrate Mardi Gras. Random
celebrations popped up during the 1830s, but by 1840, there were well-established Krewes
holding parades and balls. The celebration quickly spread all along the Gulf Coast area.
Here in Mississippi, Biloxi was the first city to hold Mardi Gras celebrations. That all changed in
1929 when other cities joined in.
The oldest Mardi Gras group here on the coast is The Gulf Coast Carnival Association. The
group was chartered in 1946 as the Biloxi Carnival and Literary Association. By 1949, the group
took on the name it now goes by.
Nowadays many prepare for Mardi Gras all year long, designing elaborate costumes and
floats. Mardi Gras is an incredible time. It really must be experienced, being something so
different to each person who joins in the fun.
Mardi Gras Colors
Selected in 1872, the official colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold. While they were
probably chosen simply because they looked good together, a meaning to each in 1892
parade entitled symbolism of colors.
Purple represents justice, it's the Queen's color, and represents the frankincense that one of
the wise men brought to the baby Jesus.
Green stands for faith, it's the Mardi Gras Captain's color and represents the myrrh that was
given to the Christ child. Gold signifies power and it's the King's color.
The Tradition of Mardi Gras King Cakes
The Mardi Gras season officially begins on the Twelfth Night of Christmas, January 6th, also
known to Christians as Epiphany which marks the coming of the wise men who brought gifts
to the Christ Child. It is also called Little Christmas on the Twelfth Night because it is
celebrated twelve nights after Christmas. This day has come to be known as King's Day. Since
the 300's, the holy day has honored the meeting of the Three Wise Men with the infant Jesus.
King Cakes have become part of the celebration to symbolize the finding of baby Jesus. This
very popular custom is still celebrated today in the making of the King's Cake representing
the three kings who brought gifts. In the early King Cakes, a bean, pea, or coin was hidden
inside the cake. The bean, pea and the coin have now been replaced by a small plastic baby to
symbolize the Christ Child. Traditionally, King Cakes are oval-shaped to show unity of all
Christians and to portray the circular route used by the kings to get to the Christ Child. The
circular route was taken to confuse King Herod who was trying to follow the wise men so he
could kill the Christ Child. King Cakes are made of a cinnamon filled dough in the shape of a
hollow circle. The cake is topped with a delicious glazed topping and then sprinkled with
colored sugar by using the carnival colors of green, yellow, and purple. Some bakers also
decorate the cakes in red to symbolize the life of Jesus. As a King Cake is cut, each person
awaits anxiously for his piece to locate the small baby. The person who finds the baby is
obligated to bring a King Cake to the next seasonal celebration. In prior times, the person who
got the hidden piece was declared King for the day or was said to have good luck in the
coming year. Many carnival clubs still choose the king or queen of their carnival by this tradition.
King Cake season ends on Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent begins.
Doubloons and Beads
The tradition of throwing doubloons at parade-goers came from Europe. Krewe members
threw sugar-coated almonds called dragees to the crowd. That tradition gave birth to the
traditional parade cry, "Throw me something, Mister!" Legend says that after running out of
other things to toss to the crowd, a carnival king reached into his pocket and started throwing
coins at the crowd. Now, the coins carry the different krewe names and themes.
As for beads , legend says that tradition started after a Mardi Gras queen took off her pearl
necklace and tossed it to the crowd. Members riding the Gulf Coat Carnival Association's
floats will throw more than half a million beads during its two parades. Gold is the most
popular color beads. They bring you good luck. White beads are for kisses.
Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" in French and is celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday
as a last "fling" prior to the 40 days of Lent which precede Easter. Lent is a word that comes
from the Middle English word "lente" which means "springtime" - so named for the season of
the year in which it usually occurs. Historically, Lenten fasting became mandatory, especially
abstinence from eating meat. The word "carnival" comes from an old Italian word that means
to "go without meat" or "removal of meat." Festivals like Mardi Gras sprang up throughout parts
of Europe as a means to prepare for the coming times of self-denial. The three days before
Ash Wednesday is also known as "Shrovetide," where shrove is an Old English word meaning
"to repent." In England, the Tuesday just before Ash Wednesday is called Shrove Tuesday and
is celebrated by eating of rich food, that won't be used during Lent.
Mardi Gras was first celebrated in North America in 1699. Pierre LeMoyne D'Iberville and his
band of French explorers were camping near a bayou at the mouth of the Mississippi river.
Being homesick, they remembered it was Mardi Gras time back home. So, they
opened a bottle of wine, toasted to the king of France, and named their campsite "Bayou de
Mardi Gras."
Mobile was actually the first city on the Gulf Coast to celebrate Mardi Gras. Random
celebrations popped up during the 1830s, but by 1840, there were well-established Krewes
holding parades and balls. The celebration quickly spread all along the Gulf Coast area.
Here in Mississippi, Biloxi was the first city to hold Mardi Gras celebrations. That all changed in
1929 when other cities joined in.
The oldest Mardi Gras group here on the coast is The Gulf Coast Carnival Association. The
group was chartered in 1946 as the Biloxi Carnival and Literary Association. By 1949, the group
took on the name it now goes by.
Nowadays many prepare for Mardi Gras all year long, designing elaborate costumes and
floats. Mardi Gras is an incredible time. It really must be experienced, being something so
different to each person who joins in the fun.
Mardi Gras Colors
Selected in 1872, the official colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold. While they were
probably chosen simply because they looked good together, a meaning to each in 1892
parade entitled symbolism of colors.
Purple represents justice, it's the Queen's color, and represents the frankincense that one of
the wise men brought to the baby Jesus.
Green stands for faith, it's the Mardi Gras Captain's color and represents the myrrh that was
given to the Christ child. Gold signifies power and it's the King's color.
The Tradition of Mardi Gras King Cakes
The Mardi Gras season officially begins on the Twelfth Night of Christmas, January 6th, also
known to Christians as Epiphany which marks the coming of the wise men who brought gifts
to the Christ Child. It is also called Little Christmas on the Twelfth Night because it is
celebrated twelve nights after Christmas. This day has come to be known as King's Day. Since
the 300's, the holy day has honored the meeting of the Three Wise Men with the infant Jesus.
King Cakes have become part of the celebration to symbolize the finding of baby Jesus. This
very popular custom is still celebrated today in the making of the King's Cake representing
the three kings who brought gifts. In the early King Cakes, a bean, pea, or coin was hidden
inside the cake. The bean, pea and the coin have now been replaced by a small plastic baby to
symbolize the Christ Child. Traditionally, King Cakes are oval-shaped to show unity of all
Christians and to portray the circular route used by the kings to get to the Christ Child. The
circular route was taken to confuse King Herod who was trying to follow the wise men so he
could kill the Christ Child. King Cakes are made of a cinnamon filled dough in the shape of a
hollow circle. The cake is topped with a delicious glazed topping and then sprinkled with
colored sugar by using the carnival colors of green, yellow, and purple. Some bakers also
decorate the cakes in red to symbolize the life of Jesus. As a King Cake is cut, each person
awaits anxiously for his piece to locate the small baby. The person who finds the baby is
obligated to bring a King Cake to the next seasonal celebration. In prior times, the person who
got the hidden piece was declared King for the day or was said to have good luck in the
coming year. Many carnival clubs still choose the king or queen of their carnival by this tradition.
King Cake season ends on Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent begins.
Doubloons and Beads
The tradition of throwing doubloons at parade-goers came from Europe. Krewe members
threw sugar-coated almonds called dragees to the crowd. That tradition gave birth to the
traditional parade cry, "Throw me something, Mister!" Legend says that after running out of
other things to toss to the crowd, a carnival king reached into his pocket and started throwing
coins at the crowd. Now, the coins carry the different krewe names and themes.
As for beads , legend says that tradition started after a Mardi Gras queen took off her pearl
necklace and tossed it to the crowd. Members riding the Gulf Coat Carnival Association's
floats will throw more than half a million beads during its two parades. Gold is the most
popular color beads. They bring you good luck. White beads are for kisses.
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