Mardi Gras 2023
By celticeagle
@celticeagle (189793)
Boise, Idaho
February 19, 2023 3:54pm CST
I usually write something about the Mardi Gras each year. I am very into New Orleans and the food and culture of the area.
Mardi Gras has been around for centuries and this year it will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 21st. It is a celebration leading up to Lent and there are parades, parties, and all manner of good food during this time. It is also called Fat Tuesday ( which is what it means in French)or Pancake Tuesday. This is during the fasting season of Lent.
The colors one will see are green signifying faith, gold signifying power, and purple signifying justice. Beads of these colors are thrown from floats and worn by celebrators.
It is an entire season with it beginning January 6th known as Twelfth Night. It may have its beginnings in Pagan times with its spring festivals. It was added to the Gregorian calendar by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. Mardi Gras was first celebrated in Mobile, Alabama in 1703.
There are five traditional foods made for this celebration. They are King Cake, a cajun and Creole dish called Crawfish Etouffe, Po'Boy, Dirty Rice, and Jambalaya.
Picture is from my collection.
9 people like this
10 responses
@ShyBear88 (59342)
• Sterling, Virginia
19 Feb 23
My parents are both from NOLA! I have grown up with Mardi Gras as part of my life since I was a baby. Even more so because my dad is Hispanic.
We ger a King cake every year, which my mom will be getting soon. My kids look froward to it ever year. We got back to NOLA every few years and have taken all of the grandkids to Mardi Gras. The last time we went was 2017 my youngest was 2 and.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
20 Feb 23
I'd like to experience it, try a cake and jambalaya.
1 person likes this
@ShyBear88 (59342)
• Sterling, Virginia
21 Feb 23
@celticeagle There is many foods to try. Jambalaya is a good one, there is all Dobishes and pentifors. I like gumbo, but I also grew up eating a lot of traditional Spanish food like tamales and such. Crawfish boils is the most popular things that most people grow up having when they live in New Orleans and Mississippi.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Feb 23
@ShyBear88 .........Love tamales.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Feb 23
@LadyDuck ........Too many people is too much for me.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
21 Feb 23
@celticeagle Too many people in the streets today, they like to follow the floaters.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Feb 23
I have always enjoyed reading about Mardi Gras and seeing the photos. I have never had the chance to participate in a Mardi Gras,
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Feb 23
@RasmaSandra ...........I hadn't seen that. Damn their dirty hides!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Feb 23
https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/20/us/new-orleans-mardi-gras-parade-shooting/index.html
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122067)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
19 Feb 23
I have lived in the suburbs of New Orleans area for 31 years and Mardi Gras is a fun party for tourists and locals alike.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Feb 23
@Deepizzaguy .....That's one way of looking at it.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122067)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
21 Feb 23
@celticeagle According to what the media nationwide and locals would say "The biggest free party to attend." for the spectators.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
20 Feb 23
We will probably watch Bourbon Street and Duval Street in Key West tomorrow via webcam. There should be a lot of celebrating going on.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
21 Feb 23
@celticeagle Yes, I will check online for the schedule.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
19 Feb 23
I was there back ine the 70's when on the round with the carnival. I always wanted to go back.
2 people like this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
19 Feb 23
@celticeagle I was there in the 80's. Never cared to go back except for the food.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
20 Feb 23
@CarolDM .........I'd like to see the cemeteries and other things. Food especially.
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
20 Feb 23
I have to remember to wear my beads when I go to the Centre tomorrow. I don't usually go on Tuesdays but they'll be serving pancakes for lunch, sooo....
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Feb 23
A lot going on there for sure. The area itself would be entertaining for me.
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
21 Feb 23
I've made king cakes before, but it's been a while. I tend to make pancakes on Fat Tuesday because I read when I was a little girl that they call it Pancake Day (as well as Shrove Tuesday) in the UK and make pancakes to use up all the fat in the house before Lent.
One year, I made "King Cake pancakes"!
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Feb 23
Interesting. What is a King Cake like?
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Feb 23
@spiderdust ..........Thanks. I think I might like one.
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
22 Feb 23
@celticeagle It's like a giant buttery cinnamon roll made into a bundt cake shape (although sometimes it's a chocolate filling instead of cinnamon) and decorated with green, purple, and gold colored sugar or luster powder. Someone from the NOLA area who has had an authentic one can probably give you a better answer, but that's what the ones I've had are like.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (89450)
• Rupert, Idaho
19 Feb 23
Very interesting to know....I didn't know much about it before. And only heard about the King Cake
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
19 Feb 23
I don't like crowds but would love to see the parades.
2 people like this
