7 Things EVERYONE Should Know about Mardi Gras 💜 💛 💚

Up until a couple years ago Team WSW knew very little about Mardi Gras, outside of it being a big event that happened every year in New Orleans. It wasn't until a client of ours requested a TON of custom Purple/Gold Green tinsel tassels, that we got curious to find out what all the hullabaloo was about and started doing a bit of homework. Here's what we found out: 

7 Things Everyone Should Know about Mardi Gras 

1. Mardi Gras' origins stem from pagan celebrations of spring & fertility, through festivals such as Saturnalia and Lupercalia in Rome. Christian leaders folded these local traditions into their faith, and the revelry transformed into a prelude to the Lent season. 

2. Mardi Gras is also dubbed Fat Tuesday, the day prior to Ash Wednesday, which kicks off 40 days of fasting and penance before the Christian holiday of Easter.

3. The official colors of Mardi Gras are Purple, Gold, Green. There's a bit of mystery surrounding why these colors were chosen, but it is said that these three hues were chosen in the late 1890's for their special meanings: 
Purple for justice. 
Gold for power.
Green for faith.

It's no secret that Team WSW is a bunch of color lovers, so this may be our favorite finding. We love knowing why we've had so many requests for this color combo in our festive tassels & beads! 

4. King Cakes are a sweet treat of twisted cinnamon-roll style dough, glazed with icing, and adorned with purple, gold, and green decorations. These cakes are eaten only during Mardi Gras celebrations, with a plastic baby hidden inside. Whoever finds the baby in their slice is in charge of buying the next King Cake.

King Cake, a Mardi Gras Tradition. Image Source: Adobe Stock

5. Krewes (pronounced "crew") are social groups and organizations made up of revelers. Krewes are in charge of throwing the many parades and balls that occur throughout the Mardi Gras season.

6. In New Orleans, law mandates all float riders wear a mask to honor mystery and tradition. Masks allow revelers the freedom of anonymity, to be whoever they want to be, without the constraints of society while celebrating. 

Mardi Gras Masks, image credit: Adobe Stock

7. "Laissez les bons temps rouler!" (pronounced "Lay-say le bon tom roo-lay")
is a common Cajun expression used that means "let the good times roll!" And the official response when someone shouts this is "Oui, cher!" (pronounced "wee sh-air") which translates to "Yeah, you right!"

What do you know about Mardi Gras that we don't? Leave a comment below telling us more! While we've been to a few parties in other cities celebrating this joyous occasion, we hope to make it to N'awlins to do it right one of these years! And you know we'll have the tassels and beads to fit right in!😆

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