Celebrating Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday Throughout the World

LAFAYETTE, La. - Dec. 3, 2013 - PRLog -- Experiencing The Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday Carnival Atmosphere With Your Party Celebration

Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday in some places, is the last hurrah before the Catholic days of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. This period of time is often compared to the Christmas holiday seasons because of its weeks of celebrations and carnival type atmosphere in most places. The words, 'Mardi Gras', is French and means 'Fat Tuesday,' and has an explosive growth in popularity during the last few decades. It has often been recognized as sort of a raucous and sometimes hedonistic carnival like event in spite of having its roots in the Christian calendar as sort of the last hurrah before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. For 2013, Mardi Gras falls on Tuesday, February 12th.

Carnival Meaning Farewell to the Flesh

But understanding why Mardi Gras is a carnival often raises questions until you understand why. The word 'carnival' is derived from the Latin words carne vale and means 'farewell to the flesh.' Like lots Catholic holidays and celebrations for the seasons, it is thought to have its roots in pre-Christian traditions based on the seasons. There are those who believe that the festival represented the few days added to the lunar calendar to help make it coincide with the solar calendar, since those days were not in the calendar, customs, and rules were often ignored.

However, there are those who see it as a winter celebration that is designed to welcome the approaching spring. It is reported that as early as the second century, Romans observed a 40 days Fast that was preceded by a season of costumes, feasting, and merrymaking.

Origins and Symbols of Mardi Gras King Cake

During the Epiphany, a King Cake is usually served, which is a custom that began during the 12th century in France. Legend has it that the king cakes were made in a circle to symbolize the circular routes taken by the Wise Men while traveling to find Jesus to, hopefully, confuse King Herod and thwart his plans to kill the Christ Child. During those early days, a bean or coin was usually hidden inside the cake, and whoever found the item was thought to have good luck during the approaching year. In Louisiana, often known as the Mardi Gras capital of the world, bakers add a small baby, representing the Christ Child, in all the cakes. However, for those who find the small baby, modern day versions have it that they will be expected to host the next King Cake party.

Popular Worldwide Carnival Celebrations

Around the world, there are many well-known season-long Carnival celebrations in Latin America and Europe, including Cologne, Germany; Nice, France; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The most popular and best known celebration in the U.S. is in New Orleans and the French-Catholic communities along the Gulf Coast and southern Louisiana. Mardi Gras was brought to the U.S. in 1699, with the arrival of a French explorer on the Mississippi River, approximately 60 miles south of New Orleans. This French explorer named the landing place Point du Mardi Gras, since he knew the holiday was being celebrated in his country on that particular day.

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Read lots more about Origin of Mardi Gra and its Carnival Atmosphere, Mardi Gras Carnival Celebrations, Finding Unique Mardi Gras Invitation Wording Ideas Samples at http://www.invitationsbyu.com/wording-mardi-gras-invitations.htm, and lots more written by Sarah Porter for http://www.invitationsbyu.com and other websites, publications, blogs, and newspapers.