"Fat Tuesday" and some good remembrance to go along"

~ Mardi Gras~

Mardi Gras, which literally means "Fat Tuesday" is officially known as Shrove Tuesday in Europe and was a day for fun and indulgence before Ash Wednesday and weeks of fasting leading up to Easter Sunday. In the US it originally started around 1730''s by African slaves gathering and celebrating on plantations in Louisiana. It became an open celebration in 1744 in New Orleans, but almost disappeared in the early 1800's. Modern Mardi Gras celebration started in 1876, with the first organization or krewe established. Today there are several krewes usually named after a mythological hero or a Greek God, responsible for organizing all the aspects of the festival including parades, parties, costume contest and political satire. Although it is celebrated in many places, New Orleans remains the heart and soul of Mardi Gras with throwing of the beads from floats in parades being one the most popular traditions.

My Parents went to the Mardi Gras, when they got married, I can remember Momma and Gilbert bringing home beads for everyone and every neighbor hood kid in the country! I can remember Momma saying the costumes where just stunning, and I remember looking at all their pictures and everyone seemed to be having fun. I am so glad my parents had the chance to go and if I talk to Momma today, she'll say something like "I can remember this at the parade when Gilbert and I went" I'm so very happy she has sweet wonderful memories of their life together!!