Artwork by
Dennis Murphy

For the students, by the students

Mardi Gras-Why Do You Celebrate?
Jamie Reading, Corner Post Staff

February 17, 2004 - Fat Tuesday is Mardi Gras, the festival for which New Orleans, Louisiana is famous.

The annual festivities started on January 6th, the Twelve Night Festival of the epiphany, when the three kings are supposed to have visited the Christ Child. The festivities build to a climax on Mardi Gras, which always occurs on the day before Ash Wednesday. "Gras" is French for fat, and "Mardi" is French for Tuesday.

Although Mardi Gras begun as the last day to indulge in food and drinks before the fasting period of lent, it has evolved into a big festival celebrated by people around the world.

The parties and parades continue until lent begins at the stroke of midnight on Tuesday. Mardi Gras is a legal holiday in New Orleans. It is scheduled to occur 46 days before Easter.

Since Easter changes from year to year, Mardi Gras can occur anywhere between February 3rd through March 9th, a span of nearly five weeks.

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