Mardi Gras celebration is around the corner!
New Orleans is getting its beads and king cakes ready. But did you know that this celebration is not only celebrated in the US but in many other places around the world, as well? There are lots of interesting things about this colorful and joyous celebration, so today we share some of these fun facts on Mardi Gras. Plus, you can celebrate Mardi Gras in Denver at Bella Diva’s Fat Tuesday Show February 9th!
Mardi Gras Fun Facts
- This extravagant celebration has its place in other countries like Germany: Karneval, Mexico: Martes de Carnaval, Sweden: Fastan, Italy: Martedi Grosso and in Trinidad: J’Ouvert. It’s said that this party’s origins go back to pagan traditions of the Roman civilization hence, its worldliness.
- The characteristic colors of this celebration are purple, green and gold. Apparently, the king of the first daytime carnival in 1872 selected these colors as they have specific meanings. Purple represents justice, gold represents power and green, faith.
- Besides the popular beads, masks are also part of the traditional costumes. Hundreds of years ago, these masks were worn to escape class constraints. This way, no one would know who they were and could mingle with other people from different classes. Today, in New Orleans, it is illegal to ride on a Mardi Gras parade float without one.
- The University of New Orleans estimates that this celebration generates around $840 million a year. One of the largest Mardi Gras supply houses in the city sells an estimated one billion pairs of beads every season.
- The first Mardi Gras parade took place in 1837, in New Orleans. Floats had their first appearance in 1857. Millions of colored bead-necklaces are thrown from the floats for people to wear and add to their collections.
