Celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans this Year.
Tableaux Car
In New Orleans, Mardi Gras officially begins January 6, called “Twelfth Night”. It continues to build up in excitement and activities until Mardi Gras Day, or Stove Tuesday, the day before the beginning of Lent called Ash Wednesday, which changes it date each year. In 2020 the date is February 25th. The largest and most elaborate parades and masked balls take place these last five days. The dazzling floats are known as “tableaux cars”. While many revelers center their activities here on Bourbon Street, the larger parades take place on Canal Street.
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It was in 1699 that French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Bienville arrived 60 miles directly south of New Orleans. Realizing it was the eve of Mardi Gras he named the area “Pointe du Mardi Gras”, which is now Mobile. In 1702 this tiny settlement celebrated America’s first Mardi Gras. It wasn’t until the 1730s that Mardi Gras was first celebrated in New Orleans. In modern times more than a million people participate in Mardi Gras’ balls, parties and parades each year. Many of which are tourists.
Beads
In the late 1800’s the tradition of throwing bead necklaces began and today hundreds of thousands of necklaces are thrown. The colors of the beads and of Mardi Gras are purple symbolizing Justice, green representing faith and gold for power.
It is a fun time to be in New Orleans. And while there see all of the fascinating sites of the French Quarter using the SelfTour™ French Quarter GPS guided walking tour App.
