March 8, 2011

Mardi Gras!


Mardi Gras is a great celebration in Louisiana.  Most people think of New Orleans when they think of Mardi Gras, but the truth is, the entire state celebrates it.  Each area celebrates a little differently though. 

New Orleans is known for the drunken people falling in the streets and showing their body parts for beads.  Thankfully the rest of the state is a little different.  Here in our local small towns we have the Mardi Gras men and women dress up and jump on horses.  They travel the back roads of the town and chase a chicken in the country fields.  They do drink and play loud cajun music, but you will see no nakedness or destruction of private property. 


Lake Charles celebrates with traditional pirates and buccaneers.  Sunday we attended the Children's day.  They had a big party for the kids that taught them about the traditions of Mardi Gras to our area.  We had cajun music, traditional food, and lots of Mardi Gras Revelers to play with the kids.  A Carnival was there to help us celebrate and of course a big parade.  This years Children's Parade was the biggest one yet. 



All towns have parades!  They are the biggest part of Mardi Gras!  Some towns have one and then some towns have many back to back for 12 days!  They all through beads, candy, and cups.  This year Pepsi was even giving out bottles of Pepsi Max in the Children's Parade.  How cool is that!  Will even got a Moon Pie!  I wish I had taken pictures to show, but we where a little busy.Lake Charles also had one of the only, if not the only, boat parade.  They line up at night and are filled with lights!  They also have Marid Gras Balls.  They are big dances with Kings and Queens in amazing dresses and feathers!



On Mardi Gras the traditional dish is Gumbo.  That is why they chase the chicken.  To put him in the gumbo. LOL!   After the Gumbo is the traditional King Cake.  I made my own this year!


Happy Mardi Gras Everyone!  And I expect to see you all in church Wednesday to get your ashes!  Don't forget....No Meat Wednesday or Every Friday until Easter!!!!

1 comment:

  1. I didn't know the whole state celebrated. I learned something new today.
    Your king cake looks great. I had one when I lived in NJ It was yummy.

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