Laissez Les Bon Temp Rouler!

Laissez Les bon Temp Rouler! Let the good times roll. Happy Fat Tuesday everyone! I confess that I love Mardi Gras.

I know when most of you think of Mardi Gras, you are visualizing Bourbon Street, alcohol and boobs for beads. There is that. But, there are also parades, floats,  great food and family fun. And most of it takes place away from Bourbon street. In fact, Mardi Gras is a coastal celebration. Here are few fun facts about Mardi Gras that you may not know.

Mardi Gras is also the celebration of the three wise men finding the baby Jesus.  Hence the King Cake. I make King Cake every year, complete with a hidden baby, beads and coins!

If you attend a parade you are probably gonna hear “Throw me sumthin’ mister!” or “Hey, Gorgeous!” all to get a little bling.  THE BLING! I love the bling….crowns, beads, coconuts, shoes, moon pies and more beads. Did I mention the beads?

But don’t be fooled. There are beads, and then there are beads!!!! I only keep the beads that are fun, big and shiny! None of those cheap little, tiny, ugly beads for me! Beads were originally glass and all of the colors of Mardi Gras. Purple, Green and Gold. Now days you see a little bit of every color, shape, size and beads are a more practical plastic.

These beads – the blue and the maroon ones -were the first beads from my first and only Mardi gras ball. I love them and think of the wonderful time we had with great friends every time I see them.

Crowns. There are always crowns at Mardi Gras! You know this Queen loves her some crowns. Big, shiny crowns. Heck, I even love small shiny crowns – on other people! My crown must be the biggest and shiniest!

Masks. You are gonna see all kinds, shapes and sizes of masks.  In fact, in NOLA all float riders are required by law to wear masks.  Hundreds of years ago, the wearing of masks was a way for people of all different classes to mingle with each other and they could be whomever they chose to be for the day. I think they are pretty, again – on other people. Although I wouldn’t be adverse to attending a masquerade ball…

Color. Purple, Gold and Green baby! These are the colors of Mardi Gras. They symbolize “royal” colors. Purple stands for Justice, Gold for power, and Green for faith.  When parades first began the idea was to throw the color of bead to the person who exhibited the colors meaning.

Fat Tuesday  is always the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which is the begining of the Lenten season.

Mardi Gras for me is not only a day of fun filled frivolity, but a reminder of the three kings finding the  sweet baby Jesus, the upcoming Lenten season and of upcoming Easter!

So Laissez les bon temp rouler! Let the good times roll!!

Until next time….

                Tammy

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