Mardi Gras

This is a picture of a parade set up that was located across the street from us on St. Charles street during Mardi Gras. This scene represents Louisiana in so many ways because only in Louisiana, would you see people standing on a purple, green, and gold platform with Mardi Gras masks and beads painted on it as a band is passing by. The colors purple, green, and gold represent Mardi Gras, and each color has a different meaning. Purple stands for justice, green stands for faith, and gold stands for power. These colors are used everywhere in Louisiana to represent Mardi Gras, especially during the month of February.
Mardi Gras, also known as “Fat Tuesday,” which was started by the ancient Romans, is the day before Ash Wednesday. It was introduced to America by early French settlers who settled in Louisiana in the mid 1820s. Since then, Mardi Gras has become a huge part of the New Orleans culture. Every year, several tourists make their way to New Orleans in February to experience part of the Louisiana culture. People make their way to the parade routes to watch the several parades that pass by, Endymion and Bacchus, two of the most popular krewes. On these floats, there are people dressed in costumes, having fun and throwing beads. The Queen, King, and maids all where huge elaborate head pieces decorated in jewels and feathers.
There is much more to Mardi Gras than these parades. There are king cakes, costumes, beads, and many other things that represent this celebration. A king cake is a delicious cake shaped in a circle covered in a white icing and purple, green, and gold sprinkles. It is usually either plain or filled with different flavored creams and a tiny baby. Traditionally, whoever gets the baby has to buy the next cake. People dress in many costumes and accessories to show their Mardi Gras spirit. They wear purple, green, and gold hats, clothes, etc. Lastly, beads come in all different sizes and shapes that make people go crazy for them. Some people go over the top to have the most perfect set up on the parade route, as shown in the picture. Mardi Gras not only takes place on Tuesday, but the festivities start the Friday before. Friends, families, and tourists all gather together to drink and party all the way through Tuesday. There are stands set up on almost every corner selling cotton candy, hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, shrimp on a stick, and chicken on a stick.
With all of the details and things going on in this image, it is clear that this is a perfect representation of Louisiana and a huge part of its culture. Although Mardi Gras changes a little every year, the meaning will always remain the same and the celebration will always remain a part of the culture of Louisiana no matter what. This is not something that you would normally see in any other state other than Louisiana.