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Hey Kids! I have had SO many e-mails asking
me the same questions over and over that I've decided to post the answers and
save everyone some time.
Here are some basic definitions to get you
started:
Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" which is the
day before Ash Wednesday.
Ash Wednesday
is the seventh Wednesday before Easter and the first day of Lent, on which many
Christians receive a mark of ashes on the forehead as a token of penitence and
mortality.
Lent is the 40
weekdays from Ash Wednesday until Easter observed by Christians as a season of
fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter.
Carnival is a
festival marked by merrymaking and feasting during the season just before Lent.
In 2004, Mardi Gras is on February 24. Plan
early for next year!!
Here in Pennsylvania Dutch country, Mardi Gras is called
"Fasnacht Day," or "Donut Day" and while the symbolism and general
meaning are the same, the Amish don't get quite as rowdy as those crazies down on Bourbon
Street. They just eat some donuts.
Heather's Top Ten Mardi Gras Tips
10.
Cram as
many people in your hotel room as allowed by law.
Most hotels jack up the prices for Mardi Gras, so the more
people in your room, the less each person pays. Also, many hotels have wristbands
(or something similar) to regulate the number of guests per room. Officially, I'll
tell you this is a good thing due to fire codes and general safety, but a clever person
can easily get around this.
9.
Watch
where you park your car.
The parade routes change several times a day! You might have
a great parking spot at 11:00 in the morning, but your car could be towed for the
afternoon parade. This is especially important if you don't have the luxury of a hotel
room and are living in your car.
8.
Don't get
thrown in jail.
The rumor I heard is that there are
only two ways to get put in jail during Mardi Gras:
(1) Public urination, and (2) Crossing a parade barricade. I wouldn't risk it if I were
you!
7.
Drink a
Hurricane at Pat O'Brien's.
And keep the souvenir glass.
6.
Don't
Drink the WATER!
Now, maybe I just have a weak digestive system, but I got
really, really sick in 1993 after drinking only water. If you're going to throw up,
you might as well have a good time at Pat O'Brien's first.
5.
Head to Cafe Du Monde for beignets
and coffee.
Like Mr. Jimmy Buffett says,
"The coffee's strong at the Cafe Du Monde, the Doughnuts are too hot to touch."
And speaking of Jimmy Buffett, if you're a parrot-head, stop by Jimmy Buffett's
Margaritaville for an A+ margarita.
Me, my brother, Joe, and my mom
at Cafe du Monde
4.
Have your
fortune read in Jackson Square.
The best psychics are there! If
you're lucky, Dracula will be there reading palms.
3.
Stake out
your parade viewing spot early.
Become familiar with the parade
schedule and learn the routes - every parade has a different route. If you bring a big
cooler you can fill it up with adult beverages to make the wait less tedious - and then
stand on it to have a great view.
2.
Wear a
costume on Fat Tuesday.
It's the difference between being a Mardi Gras PARTICIPANT
and a Mardi Gras OBSERVER. Plus, I didn't have to expose myself to get good beads when I
dressed as Dorothy from Oz.
1.
EXPOSE
YOURSELF!
It's how you get the BEST beads! Hell, no one is going to
recognize you! But watch for cameras - you don't want your enemies (or your friends!)
blackmailing you when you get home.
My Brother, Joe, and Me
Taken at Mardi Gras in New Orleans,
1995
