Behind the Celebrations
Day-of Happenings
Mardi Gras Around the World
Food Traditions
Festivities in NOLA
200
What does “Mardi Gras” translate to in English?
Fat Tuesday. This holiday is all about giving in to gluttonous desires, especially fatty, fried foods, meat, and liquor.
200
What do parade participants usually throw into the crowd?
Colored bead necklaces (colliers= "throws"), coins (doubloons), and candy.
200
What is another name for Mardi Gras that is widely used outside of the US?
Carnival or Carnaval
200
Which of these foods is NOT a traditional part of Mardi Gras celebrations? Crêpes, beignets, croissants, galette des rois.
Croissants
200
What Disney movie takes place during Mardi Gras in New Orleans?
The Princess and the Frog
400
Where was Mardi Gras first celebrated in the US?
In Mobile, Alabama in 1703 by the first French settlers in the Louisiana territory.
400
What colors are typically associated with Mardi Gras?
Purple, gold, and green.
400
Which world city has the most popular Carnaval celebration?
Rio de Janeiro
400
What is usually hidden inside a “galette des rois”?
A bean or a plastic baby. Whoever gets this in their slice is supposed to win a prize.
400
When was the first official Mardi Gras parade held in NOLA?
1837
600
Why do we celebrate Mardi Gras in the US?
Mardi Gras came to the US as a French Catholic holiday when French explorers, commanded by King Louis XIV, claimed the Louisiana territory on March 3, 1699. They named the bayou in honor of Mardi Gras.
600
Mardi Gras is a time to put on a mask and costume and pretend to be someone else. Where did this mask-wearing tradition originate?
Wearing masks for Mardi Gras originated in Venice, Italy, and spread throughout the world as a means to escape “societal and class constraints”.
600
Which French city is most well-known for their Carnaval celebrations and how many visitors do they expect each year for Carnival?
Nice has the most celebrated festival in France for Carnaval, and it attracts over 1 million visitors over a 2-week period.
600
How many “galette des rois” are sold per year for Mardi Gras?
An estimated 500,000 in the NOLA alone!
600
What is the name given to the leader of the NOLA Mardi Gras parade?
His name is Rex, which means “King” in Latin.
800
What Christian holiday/celebration does Mardi Gras mark the beginning of?
Mardi Gras is the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, a period in which practicing Christians participate in a fast or give up a habit for a 6-week period that ends on Easter. Festivities can begin as early as Epiphany, aka Three Kings Day, which celebrates the journey that the three wise men took to visit baby Jesus.
800
What is the greeting for Mardi Gras?
‘Laissez les bon temps rouler’ let the good times roll in Creole French.
800
Where and when was the first recorded Carnaval festival?
Nice in 1294.
800
Which Italian dessert was invented for Carnival and remains popular to this day?
Cannoli were invented as a Mardi Gras indulgence and symbolizes fertility.
800
How many pounds of beads end up in New Orleans’ streets every year after Mardi Gras?
An estimated 25 million pounds!
1000
Purple, gold, and green have been associated with Mardi Gras since 1872. What do these colors represent?
Purple represents justice, gold represents power, and green represents faith.
1000
How many floats were part of the New Orleans Mardi Gras parade in 2022?
As many as 1,000 house floats were part of the parade!
1000
What are the origins of the word “Carnival”?
It comes from the Latin derivation “carnelevare” which literally means “goodbye to meat”, as it’s the last chance to indulge before Lent.
1000
What food-related name is Mardi Gras called in the UK and Ireland?
It’s known as Pancake Day, as pancakes are the most popular dish for Mardi Gras in the UK and Ireland.
1000
What is the slightly ironic name of the most popular cocktail consumed in New Orleans for Mardi Gras?
A hurricane. It’s made with 2 oz light rum, 2 oz dark rum, orange and passionfruit juice.
