It's Monday... It's Almost Mardi Gras... What Do We Do? Celebrate! 2/20/2012
Did You Know? - The terms "Mardi Gras" (play /ˈmɑrdiɡrɑː/), "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday.
Mardi gras is French for Fat Tuesday, referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday; in English the day is sometimes referred to as Shrove Tuesday, from the word shrive, meaning "confess."
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Let The Party And Dancing Begin!
Richard and Barbara... We think???
We turned back the time
Did You Know? - While not observed nationally throughout the United States, a number of traditionally ethnic French cities and regions in the country have notable celebrations. Mardi Gras arrived in North America as a French Catholic tradition with the Le Moyne brothers, Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, in the late 17th century, when King Louis XIV sent the pair to defend France's claim on the territory of Louisiane, which included what are now the U.S. states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
The expedition, led by Iberville, entered the mouth of the Mississippi River on the evening of March 2, 1699, Lundi Gras. They did not yet know it was the river explored and claimed for France by René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle in 1683. The party proceeded upstream to a place on the west bank about 60 miles downriver from where New Orleans is today, and made camp. This was on March 3, 1699, Mardi Gras, so in honor of this holiday, Iberville named the spot Point du Mardi Gras (French: "Mardi Gras Point") and called the nearby tributary Bayou Mardi Gras. Bienville went on to found the settlement of Mobile, Alabama in 1702 as the first capital of French Louisiana. In 1703 French settlers in Mobile began the Mardi Gras celebration tradition.
Nancy and Tom looking good in masks and hats
This picture is ready for the album
Beads anyone?
Talk about decorations!
The tables are well prepared for the celebration... Frisbee in the parking lot in ten minutes
"Remember, do not trust him!!"
Ah ha.... In my disguise.... No one will know me!
OK... maybe Paul needs a better disguise
Herb has an idea....
"Who are you masked man???"
"This is my bestest unhappy face!"
The table makes us want to celebrate
The dancing continues
Geo was excellent this evening
Did You Know? - A krewe (pronounced in the same way as "crew") is an organization that puts on a parade and or a ball for the Carnival season. The term is best known for its association with New Orleans Mardi Gras.
Used to scare spooky spirits away...
Beads and more beads
The official Mardi Gras flag
Decorated and ready to go
Now this is a beer stein....
Scary face keeps swimmers away
Beautiful flows... An anniversary is being celebrated
