Mardi Gras is a Christian holiday celebrated in Louisiana before Lent that involves parades, balls, and eating. It began as a French tradition on the Mississippi River in New Orleans and has grown into a large festival celebrated around the world. During parades in Louisiana, beads, doubloons, and other throws are tossed from floats to crowds as the official colors of purple, gold, and green are displayed and King Cakes with plastic babies are shared.

1. Mardi Gras
in Louisiana
Written By: Stacy Bodin
Illustration By: Theresa Hardy

2. Everyone loves celebrations! Louisiana hosts one called Mardi Gras.
Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday. This holiday is sometimes called
Shrove Tuesday. Mardi Gras is a holiday is for celebrating and eating.

3. The following day is Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent, which
is a 40 day period when Christians give up something they enjoy until
Easter. Although Mardi Gras began because of Lent traditions and has since
evolved into a big festival celebrated by people around the world.

4. New Orleans, Louisiana has the biggest celebration of any American
town. It all started when French explorers celebrated the holiday on the
Mississippi River and the party grew from there.
Now it's become a popular holiday.

5. Parades and balls take place all around Louisiana. Kings, Queens and
Courts are named. Groups who organize Mardi Gras balls and parades are
called krewes.

6. During parades, colorful beaded necklaces thrown from floats as souvenirs
of Mardi Gras. Cups and toy coins known as "doubloons" are also shared
things thrown during parades.

7. The colors for
Mardi Gras
are purple, gold
and green.

8. King Cakes are baked and shared. Small plastic babies are baked into
King Cakes. Whoever gets the slice of the cake with the baby usually
supplies the next King Cake.
Photo from Wikipedia

9. Mardi Gras is a special holiday
which Louisiana people love to celebrate!

10. Mardi Gras is a special holiday
which Louisiana people love to celebrate!