What is Mardi Gras all about?  

don't feel bad me either. excpet you get alot and lots of people cram in the streets and girls flash you thier boobies at you for a necklace. humm ok that alone makes it worth it.. lol.
but i seen it on tv and all the people there is no way i would go there and deal with all those people

It's also called Fat Tuesday and is the start of the Catholic fast, lent. The fast is 40 days before Easter (I think, not definitely for sure). I think that's why so much food is involved. I remember we discussed this in my high school German class and we recognized the holiday. I think it's also a big German holiday.

Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. I think the way this day is celebrated is different depending on what area of the country you are in. It is a day to indulge in whatever you have chosen to give up for Lent. So if you are giving up meat for Lent, you might have a big meal and eat lots of meat. Not every Mardi Gras celebration involves flashing and wild parties.

Based on what I've read on New Orlean's celebration of Mardi Gras - the flashing is mostly either for fun or in order to obtain the Mardi Gras beads (accessories that the people on the float either throw to the audience or someone on the street gives away when you seem like an interesting person - interesting loosely translates to if you have good boobs I presume). Also the flashing is technically illegal but the police let it go so that they could concentrate on guarding against more serious crimes - theft, violence, etc.