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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