The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced to medieval Europe, passing through Rome and Venice in the 17th and 18th centuries to the French House of the Bourbons. From here, the traditional revelry of "Boeuf Gras," or fatted calf, followed France to her colonies.
On March 2, 1699, French-Canadian explorer 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.
Mardi is French for Tuesday, and Gras means “fat”. In France, the day before Ash Wednesday came to be know as Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday.”
Traditionally on the days leading up to Lent, Merrymakers would binge on all the rich, fatty foods-meat, eggs, milk, lard and cheese-that remained in their homes, in anticipation of the several weeks of eating only fish and different types of fasting.
The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple, gold and green. When using these colors, you can choose any shade of the three hues. Purple stands for justice, green for faith and gold for power.
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