Throw your own Mardi Gras-themed celebration by imitating Mardi Gras traditions.
A Mardi Gras theme can be applied to any type of celebration. This themed event would imitate the Mardi Gras celebrations that occur on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent for Catholics. Mardi Gras, which means "Fat Tuesday," celebrations have now become a staple throughout the world with brightly colored decorations, king cake and other festive foods and drinks, Mardi Gras-inspired music, and Mardi Gras costumes.
Decorations
A themed Mardi Gras celebration should have brightly colored decorations with plenty of greens, purples and golds. These are the traditional colors of Mardi Gras with green meaning faith, purple representing justice, and gold symbolizing power. Other decorations include jester related items and plenty of beads hanging everywhere.
Food
Several important foods should be included for any Mardi Gras themed celebration. King cakes are an important part of the traditional Mardi Gras celebrations. These cakes are shaped in an oval and represent the three kings that came to visit Jesus when he was first born. They are decorated with the traditional green, gold and purple colors of Mardi Gras, and the cake should also have a small toy baby baked into the cake, symbolizing Jesus. The person who finds the baby in their slice will supposedly experience good luck. Other foods could include anything Cajun or New Orleans-inspired such as crawfish and gumbo.
Drinks
Hurricanes are the staple for any Mardi Gras celebration. Hurricanes are a mix of rums and juices that take on a red-like hue. Other popular Mardi Gras drinks include spicy Bloody Marys and Mint Juleps. Since Mardi Gras celebrations encourage going against social conventions, really any kind of drink would work for a Mardi Gras party.
Music
To help set the Mardi Gras theme, play jazz, blues and anything Cajun. This music should be high energy and fun to encourage people to dance and let go of their inhibitions. Music with brass instruments, such as saxophones and trumpets, are also included in Mardi Gras celebrations.
Costumes and Masks
Dressing in crazy costumes is another entertaining aspect of celebrating Mardi Gras. Many people wear masks and decorate them any way they want with lots of purple, green and gold feathers and jewels. These masks imitate the jester decorations and also symbolize freedom so people can behave unlike they normally would without worrying about being identified.
Tags: Mardi Gras, Gras celebrations, Mardi Gras celebrations, anything Cajun, brightly colored, brightly colored decorations, colored decorations