Mardi Gras
People in many parts of the world celebrate Mardi Gras. the name means ‘Fat Tuesday in French. The carnival traditionally started on the day before Ash Wednesday-when Catholics have to stop eating and drinking certain things for lent. Today, Mardi Gras is a very popular carnival. It begins in January or February and lasts for several days or week, until Ash Wednesday. Many people say it is ‘the biggest free show on earth’ and it is an exciting holiday for both children and adults.
There are big Mardi Gras celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sydney, Australia; Nice, France; Venice, Italy; and Cologne, Germany, but the biggest and most famous is in New Orleans, in Louisiana, USA
In New Orleans the whole city stop for one huge party. Tens of thousands of people fill the streets and there are hundreds of parades. Each parade has a king and queen and people wear very colourful costumes with the Mardi Gras colours of purple, green and gold. There is a lot of music (especially jass) and dancing People in the parade throw special Mardi Gras coins, flowers, necklaces and sweets to the crowds. After each parade there is abig party, called a ball. People wear masks and they dance all night. There are always lots of fireworks too.
A favourite tradition of the New Orleans Mardi Gras is the King Cake. This is a special cake in the Mardi Gras colours. There are many different kinds, and people eat thousands of them!