Everything you need to know about Mardi Gras

By Grace Crandall
Staff Writer

All about Mardi Gras

When Mardi Gras comes to mind, there are many images that may run through one’s head. Parade floats and colorful beads, costume masks and jelly donuts, all have a role to play in the historic holiday. Mardi Gras, celebrated on Feb. 21, brings cultures and traditions together in a day of food and festivity. The source of these celebrations go back further than a few generations, however. Its history can be found in ancient times.

From ancient times to the new world

Mardi Gras is based upon ancient pagan celebrations of Lupercalia, a Roman festival celebrating the arrival of spring. The festival was cited to be one of excessive food and drink. This celebration eventually transformed into a Christian holiday, which Christians would observe with eating rich foods before entering the season of Lent, a time of fasting and prayer taking place between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.

Mardi Gras festivities continued to spread through Europe during the following centuries. Mardi Gras means “Fat Tuesday,” in French, referring to the rich and fatty foods consumed on that day. The celebration is also known as “Carnival”, which comes from Latin, meaning, “to take away meat,” thus referring to the upcoming fasting of Lent.

Mardi Gras’ arrival to America

In 1699, a French explorer named Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville found land south of what is now New Orleans, Louisiana. Bienville named the spot, “Pointe du Mardi Gras”, as it was the day before the holiday.

By 1718, New Orleans had been established, and was becoming the center of French-American culture. Early Mardi Gras celebrations consisted of a governor’s ball and parades, organized by what is called a “krewe”. Krewes remain an integral part of Mardi Gras today. Keeping their identities a secret from the public, they are the groups that prepare the festivities that have become a part of the New Orleans tradition.

New Orleans today

Modern day New Orleans begins its Mardi Gras with parades. Krewes stagger the timing of parades, and place floats throughout the city, giving everyone a chance to join in the celebration. Thousands of beads are thrown from the floats, as well as cups, toys, and other goodies.

Flags and streamers are hung from every building, in the colors of purple (for justice), green (for faith), and gold (for power).

Everyone who rides on a float is required to wear a costume mask, carrying on the custom of anonymity. Traditionally, the purpose of a Mardi Gras mask was to allow everyone to celebrate together, disregarding class or status. All paradegoers are encouraged to don a mask, as it helps add mystery to the event.

Mardi Gras ends with several balls, with some being invitation only, and others open to the public. The balls are black-tie events, featuring food, music, and dancing.

Another iconic tradition includes eating king cake, a braided cake covered in purple, green, and gold sprinkles. This tradition is based on the story of the three wise men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus. King cake usually has a tiny plastic baby hidden inside, or some other small item. The person who receives the slice of cake with the baby gives the next king cake party, so the tradition goes.

Meanwhile, in Michigan…

While Michigan may not be known for its Mardi Gras festivities, the state still gets involved in the holiday. Detroit fused New Orleans style with Caribbean tradition in a celebration the weekend leading up to Mardi Gras. The city presented brass band parades along the riverfront, offered Cajun cuisine, and welcomed various live performers.

Perhaps the most famous aspect of a Michigan Mardi Gras can be found in the celebration of paczki, Polish jelly-filled donuts. Many people spend their Mardi Gras morning standing in line to order a dozen of the sweet pastries. In fact, paczki have become so popular in the Midwest that many Michiganders refer to the day as “Paczki Day.”

The tradition of paczki began in the early 20th century, when Polish immigrants arrived in Hamtramck, Michigan, and introduced the special deep-fried donut. Today, Hamtramck is the center of everything paczki, with multiple Polish bakeries in the area. The town even holds the “Paczki Run” a 5K through Hamtramck the Saturday before Paczki Day.

If you missed Paczki Day this year, many bakeries throughout the state offer paczki all year round.