Mardi Gras is celebrated annually in New Orleans, Louisiana. French Catholics brought the Carnival celebration to New Orleans in 1699, where it is now known as Mardi Gras. Celebrations include parades with floats and costumes, where beads and other trinkets are thrown to crowds watching from balconies.

2. • Carnival is not celebrated very much in the USA.
• There is one exception.
• French Catholics brought Carnival to the USA.
It was first celebrated on 3 March, 1699.
• “Mardi Gras” is VERY popular in the city of New
Orleans.
• “Mardi Gras” is French, meaning “Fat Tuesday.”

3. The USA in 1800.
the city of New Orleans

5. Celebrations include…
• parades with parade floats
• costumes
• throwing beads to the crowd.
purple - justice
green - faith
The meaning of the colours
golden - power

6. and parade floats

7. Bead
necklaces
are
thrown to
the crowd.

10. People watch the festivities
from their balconies.

11. The party
lasts for the
day…
and the night.

13. ACTIVITY
Now answer these questions about this American
celebration:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Where is Carnival celebrated in the USA?
What is the name for this American celebration?
Where does it come from?
When was the first celebration of MardiGras?
What is the meaning of Mardi Gras?
What are the typical colours of Mardi Gras?
What is the meaning of these colours?
What do people do in Mardi Gras?