MARDI GRAS (FAT TUESDAY)

Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, is one of the most famous Carnival celebrations in the world.

Celebrations are concentrated for about two weeks before and through Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras in French), the day before Ash Wednesday. Usually there is one major parade each day (weather permitting); many days have several large parades. The largest and most elaborate parades take place the last five days of the season. In the final week of Carnival, many events large and small occur throughout New Orleans and surrounding communities

The parades in New Orleans are organized by Carnival krewes. Krewe float riders toss throws to the crowds; the most common throws are strings of plastic colorful beads, doubloons (aluminum or wooden dollar-sized coins usually impressed with a krewe logo), decorated plastic throw cups, and small inexpensive toys.

Mardi Gras throws

To New Orleanians, "Mardi Gras" specifically refers to the Tuesday before lent, the highlight of the season. The term can also be used less specifically the whole Carnival season, sometimes as "the Mardi Gras season". The term "Fat Tuesday" or "Mardi Gras Day" always refers only to that single day.

Here's a video of Mardi Gras 2oo6(150th anniversary of Mardi Gras in New Orleans.) It includes footage of Fat Tuesday, the French Quarter and the Rex, Zulu and Bacchus parades.