The History of Mardi Gras
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By: Mackenzie Gandolfo
Mardi Gras is an old tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages. It was initially celebrated by European Christians as a way to mark the beginning of Lent and to prepare for the fasting period of Easter. The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced to Medieval Europe, passing through Rome and Venice in the 17th and 18th centuries. On March 2, 1699, Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville arrived at a plot of ground 60 miles directly south of New Orleans, and named it "Pointe du Mardi Gras" when his men realized it was the eve of the festive holiday. Bienville also established "Fort Louis de la Louisiane," which is now Mobile, in 1702. In 1703, the tiny settlement of Fort Louis de la Mobile celebrated America's very first Mardi Gras.
In 1704, Mobile established a secret society (Masque de la Mobile), similar to those that form our current Mardi Gras krewes. It lasted until 1709. In 1710, the "Boeuf Gras Society" was formed and paraded from 1711 through 1861. The procession was held with a huge bull's head pushed along on wheels by 16 men. Later, Rex would parade with an actual bull, draped in white and signaling the coming Lenten meat fast. This occurred on Fat Tuesday. By the 1730s, Mardi Gras was celebrated openly in New Orleans, but not with the parades we know today. In the early 1740s, Louisiana's governor, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, established elegant society balls, which became the model for the New Orleans Mardi Gras balls of today. The earliest reference to Mardi Gras "Carnival" appears in a 1781 report to the Spanish colonial governing body.
Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" and is the celebration that leads up to the beginning of Lent, the season of fasting and penitence. It gets its name from the practice of consuming foods that would be forbidden during Lent leading up to the beginning of the fast on Ash Wednesday. The beads for Mardi Gras represent purple, green, and gold, with these three colors containing the Christian symbolism of justice, faith, and power, respectively.
“The King Cake”
It is believed that the king cake tradition originated in France and was brought to New Orleans in 1870. The French version of this local delicacy is made out of an almond-filled puff pastry that gives off a flaky texture. It also features a decorative pattern and is sometimes topped with a paper crown. The New Orleans style cake shares more similarities with the Spanish or Latin version, which is ring-shaped and topped with icing and candied fruit.
Happy Mardi Gras!
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