What's Fat Tuesday?
Happy Fat Tuesday friends! Did you know that today is a day you are supposed to eat fatty, rich foods? Fat Tuesday in French means Mardi Gras and marks the start of "carnival" season. Today is to be celebrated with indulging in foods before the ritual fasting of Lenten season beginning tomorrow in Anglican and Catholic traditions.
The celebrations of Mardi Gras vary in different cultures but it's safe to say the most famous celebration in the U.S. occurs in New Orleans, Louisiana. Other places famous for Mardi Gras celebrations include Rio de Janeiro, Columbia, Quebec City and Mazatlan Mexico.
How did Mardi Gras get to the U.S.? Well, in the 17th century King Louis XIV sent his people to defend their claim to the territory known as Louisiane which included what are now the U.S. states of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. By 1723 the colonists who settled in these areas of the South brought their customs and they were embraced by residents, even those not of French or Catholic heritage.
When did baring breasts for beads come into the picture? It has no cultural significance and is only a "tradition" since the last decade of the 20th century. This is practiced mostly by tourists, not locals and in a very small amount of celebrations like in New Orleans.
Laissez les bons temps rouler! (Let the good times roll).












