Saturday, November 6, 2010

The Roman Catholic Celebration of Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is a Roman Catholic ritual dating back as far as 5,000 years. It is a celebration of indulgence of food and drink that takes place generally immediately before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the fast of Lent. The first American Mardi Gras was celebrated near modern day New Orleans on March 3, 1699. I wasn't until the 1800's that these celebrations involved parades and things of that nature that we recognize today.

Did you know that this special celebration also has its own designated colors? That's right. These colors are purple, green, and gold. Purple represents justice, green is for faith, and gold symbolizes power. So if you decide to dress up for this occasion these three colors are the perfect choice. A great outfit may include a Jester's hat, a masquerade mask, and don't forget to wear a huge variety of beads around your neck. The more the merrier!

If you can't make the trip to New Orleans to celebrate this year, why not throw your own party? Hang some green, purple, and gold balloons around your home, maybe include some crepe streamer to match. Then be sure to have plenty of beads on hand for every guest to enjoy. Beads are available at almost any party store. It is also a good idea to have some masks. You can be creative and make your own or buy some along with your beads. Don't forget the King Cake. This is a Mardi Gras tradition that represents the three wise men that sought baby Jesus shortly after his birth. Hide a baby figurine in the cake and let the person that finds it carry on the tradition next year! You may also want to make a few dishes such as jambalaya or creole rice, and other cajun dishes you enjoy. Lastly, be safe and have fun!




Ronnie Tanner is a contributing writer at http://www.swengines.com He writes about selecting used engines and choosing this as an alternative to costly car purchases.

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