Mardi Gras Information: Lean Web Sites for Fat Tuesday
Mardi Gras is more than just a debauched free-for-all: In fact, the history of Mardi Gras is steeped in tradition and religious meaning. This Mardi Gras Information Web Guide shows you Fat Tuesday in all its incarnations. Use these resources to learn about Mardi Gras traditions, and find help throwing your own Fat Tuesday celebration.
Expand All Guide SectionsHistory of Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras is more than just an excuse for wild debauchery during Spring Break. Below you'll learn about the history of Mardi Gras and how many Mardi Gras traditions came to be.
Insights for the History of Mardi Gras
- Not unlike the celebration, many Mardi Gras Web sites feature bright colors, music and various so-called "bells and whistles" that can make navigation difficult.
- “Mardi Gras” is French for “Fat Tuesday” and technically refers to a single day: the Tuesday immediately before Ash Wednesday. In your research you’ll also see the phrase Shrove Tuesday, which is another way that Christians refer to Mardi Gras.
- Mardi Gras is often associated with Carnivale, but the two celebrations are different. Carnivale (spelling varies depending on which country is doing the celebrating) is the period beginning on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, and continuing until Mardi Gras Day. In New Orleans, however, you’ll often hear Mardi Gras used interchangeably with Carnivale to refer to the entire period.
Top Sites for the History of Mardi Gras
The History Channel
offers extensive coverage of the history behind Mardi Gras, including the influence of Paganism and Greek and Roman mythology. Photos and videos from Mardi Gras past round out the coverage.
PBS
translated its two-hour television documentary of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras celebration into an online learning tool. Delve further than debauchery and beads with the “People and Events” section.
The BBC
provides background on Shrove Tuesday in its Religion and Ethics section on Christianity. Learn about celebrations, traditional dishes (pancakes!), and activities associated with the day.
Mardi Gras Celebrations
New Orleans is practically synonymous with Mardi Gras, but around the world numerous cities celebrate their own versions of Fat Tuesday and Carnivale. Find details on the biggest Mardi Gras celebrations around the globe with the sites below.
Insights for Mardi Gras Celebrations
- Mardi Gras means different things in different places. For example, in the British Isles and France it’s a day for eating pancakes and crêpes, while in Sydney the day is marked by a parade that aims to heighten the visibility of gays and lesbians. Tossing beads and shedding clothes are not necessarily part of the event. In fact, during Switzerland’s Fasnacht, anything deemed inappropriate for families is not allowed.
- Many smaller cities and countries have their own versions of Mardi Gras and Carnivale celebrations. If you want a more intimate, under-the-radar party, try searching on official tourism Web sites and online newspapers. For example, learn more about Slovenia’s Kurentovanje on the festival’s official Web site and get a taste of a Mardi Gras soirée focused on revitalizing French-Canadian culture in northern Rhode Island, as described in The New York Times.
- Once you’ve decided which fiesta is worthy of your presence, consult the findingDulcinea Travel Web Guide for Web sites to help you find and book a flight and a place to stay.
- For travel information regarding Mardi Gras and Carnivale celebrations outside of New Orleans, refer to findingDulcinea Travel Web Guides for individual countries, including Brazil, Australia, Italy and France.
Top Sites for Mardi Gras Celebrations
For New Orleans …
MardiGras.com
is a lively site led by New Orleans paper The Times-Picayune. Full of articles, multimedia features and trip planning tools, the site is a bit cluttered but has a great variety of resources.
Budget Travel
featured an article about Mardi Gras that is a great tool for potential visitors. Find out which parades are must-sees, what is legal for partiers on the streets, and get a bit of insight into where to stay and buy a drink in the city.
For Rio de Janeiro …
Rough Guides
offers a short but effective section on Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and informs you of the best festivities in smaller cities.
For Venice …
Whatsonwhen
covers Venice Carnevale. This brief entry explains what goes on during the centuries-old celebration in St. Mark’s Square and links you to the official Venice Carnevale site.
ItalyGuides
is an excellent resource for travelers to Italy with a brief section on Carnevale. Read up on the storied history of Carnevale masks and view the colorful photo gallery.
For Sydney …
New Mardi Gras
is the official site of the festivities in Sydney, Australia, where Mardi Gras and the accompanying parade are intended to raise the visibility of gays and lesbians. Learn more about the event and how to be a part of it.
For France …
French Entrée
discusses the tradition of Pancake Day, which occurs on Mardi Gras (the day before Ash Wednesday) throughout France. Find out how the French take a more subdued approach to indulgence before Lent.
For Quebec …
Carnaval de Quebec
introduces Carnaval in the French-speaking province of Quebec, Canada. Find all the details you need to join in the revelry.
Mardi Gras Party Ideas
Put your own stamp on Fat Tuesday with some Mardi Gras party ideas. On the Web, there are plenty of sites to help you plan and shop for Mardi Gras supplies.
Insights for Mardi Gras Party Ideas
- Can’t get enough Mardi Gras? You can celebrate year-round with the iconic New Orleans Mardi Gras cocktail, the Hurricane. Watch a clip from eHow for a video tutorial on how to make a Hurricane, or read eHow’s step-by-step instructions.
Top Sites for Mardi Gras Party Ideas
For party planning …
Evite
has a section on planning a Mardi Gras party with ideas for invitations, costumes, activities, food and drink recipes, gifts, music and e-cards. Some links are included to purchase gifts.
For decorations and costumes …
Mardi Gras Outlet
is a shopping site devoted to the festivities. Find all varieties of beads, masks, apparel and decorations to turn your costume party at home into a roaring parade.
Buy Costumes
has a huge selection of costumes for any occasion, including Mardi Gras. Take your pick from the kids’ and adults’ items and choose complementary accessories.
HGTV
shows you how to create a Mardi Gras lamp using recycled beads, based on designs by New Orleans native artist Mark Kirk.
For food …
iVillage
provides an archive of its online newsletters, including this suggested Mardi Gras menu containing four recipes suitable for a Fat Tuesday party.
Nola Cuisine
is a blog presenting the best of New Orleans food with eye-catching photos, recipes and entries written by a true food lover. This page features a King Cake recipe and accompanying photo.
NPR
presents an audio clip describing how bakeries make King Cake. Also view photos and get a brief explanation of the history behind the tasty, colorful treat.
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