Holidays, Carnival Season
The main focus for most of us in early January is putting away holiday decor,
healthy eating, and getting a fresh start for the new year
But in the South, January 6, or Twelfth Night, the Feast of the Ephiphany,
marks the beginning of Carnival season,
a time of masquerade balls, lavish parades, and general merriment
that culminates on Fat Tuesday (February 25 this year).
It’s time to start thinking about Mardi Gras!
Even if you don’t have any Mardi Gras celebrations near you,
you can bring Carnival to your home with colorful food and decor!
Create a Mardi Gras bouquet with purple,
green and gold flowers and
add a Mardi Gras mask
Add an eggplant to a bowl of fresh citrus fruits for a fresh Mardi Gras centerpiece
Roasted Fennel and Red Cabbage Citrus Salad is Mardi Gras on your plate
Healthy, 5 minutes to prep, and the rainbow of colors will brighten your day
New Orleans and South AL are famous for pralines,
and you can make a festive snack mix version
Add green and yellow M & Ms for color
Muffaletta Pie makes a hearty main dish
Look for Mardi Gras colored chips at World Market to go with this giant sandwich
Or lighten things up and make colorful Antipasto Skewers
Make a savory version of traditional King Cake like this
Italian Sandwich Ring with Smokey Pimiento Cheese
Carnival and Mardi Gras are all about abundance and merriment
Fill a container with ornaments, masks, beads,
and anything purple, gold and green you can find
If your local stores don’t carry any Mardi Gras decorations,
shop on Amazon here
King Cake Crowns are mini Bundt cakes made with 3 colored batters
Crowned with icing and colored sprinkles
If you want to see other versions of King Cakes, click on the links below:
Almond Danishes are drizzled with purple icing and green sprinkles with a baby on top
You can pick up something festive in my Society 6 Shop
There are sales almost everyday!
Phone cases are 35% off today, Jan 8!
Pour the Wine Cutting Board Pop the Champagne Coasters
Jester Coasters Queen of Hearts travel mug Jester phone case
Queen of Hearts pillow Pop the Champagne serving tray
Jester pillow Queen of Hearts carry all pouch
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Meal Plan Monday Love Your Creativity What’s for Dinner?
Between Naps on the Porch, Make it Pretty Monday
Turn About Tuesday Celebrate Your Story, You’re the Star
All About Home/ Common Ground Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Tasty Tuesday Oh My Heartsie Girl Full Plate Thursday
Thursday Favorite Things Creatively Crafty Home Matters
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I honestly didn’t realize Carnival season started on 12th night until this year. So in a year like 2019 where Easter was quite late (Apr 21), that just meant a longer Carnival season. Lol, leave it to Southern tradition to extend the party. You’ve got some great ideas, Jenna.
ha ha, you’re so right Rita, Southerners love a party!
Oh Jenna you brought back some wonderful memories of our trip to NOLA last year during Carnival! We loved seeing the homes decorated! The vibrant purples and golds! The food is another big part! We loved it all!
My friends grandson just went to a Ball… it was spectacular in the pictures I saw.
Thank you for the great memories and how I can bring some of those memories right back here in AZ!
You should have a Mardi Gras party for your Arizona friends and show them what it’s all about!
Hmmm! I just might!
Jenna, I’ve hardly put Christmas away and Mardi Gras season is upon us. I love these celebrations, such fun. Your gorgeous flowers and food sure makes for happy times and celebrations at your home. We have fond memories of our younger years when we enjoyed going to the balls and parties. Thanks for all the good ideas to enjoy this season……..
Thanks Emily, I have a good friend that is very involved in Mardi Gras in Fairhope, she was even Queen of her Crewe one year, sounds like crazy fun! I am hoping to catch a parade when I’m at the beach in Feb
Jenna, you brought back lots of wonderful memories this morning. My husband used to travel to Louisiana quite often for business, and I would go with him. The stores were always packed with such beautiful Mardi Gras decorations. Porches and doors were always so pretty decorated for the season. Your praline snack mix sounds yummy! Happy Wednesday!!!
What fun, I’ve never been to NOLA during the season, but Orange Beach gets very festive too, and I have gone to parades and caught beads! Thanks Shannon~
Jenna, you do Mardi Gras so well. I must admit I do not have one Mardi Gras decoration, what is wrong with me?! I have always wanted to go to Mobile during the season. Maybe one day…
It’s a lot of fun, they have Mardi Gras parades in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores too!
I can’t even imagine thinking about Carnival so close to Christmas recovery. But so festive!
It makes January less dreary and more fun!
Something I did not know. I always thought Marci Gras was in March. You really pulled out all of the stops for this celebration. Loved the food ideas and the cute decor. So fun and colorful too. Thanks for the inspiration Jenna.
Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, the end of Mardi Gras season is always the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday when lent begins, so it varies every year. I like it when it doesn’t fall too close to Valentine’s Day so they can both be celebrated properly! Thanks Linda!
I didn’t know that it started so early. I don’t believe this is as popular up north as it is in the south. The masquerade balls sound like fun, makes me think of the beautiful masquerade scene in the movie the Count of Monte Cristo. Yesterday I completed the taking down of all the outside lighting and the wreaths. Whew, you all have energy to burn to start decorating and partying again, haha. Have fun!
It does take a lot of energy to take down and put away, I think that’s why I left so much up for the winter, too lazy! I haven’t gotten my Mardi Gras stuff out yet, going to wait until the end of January…we are partied out for a while 😂 Thanks Cyndi!
What a fun post highlighting Mardi Gras. So many nice recipes to make. Hope you have a nice week.
Thanks Julie!
I love all the colors! It’s so nice to see all the colors after all the Christmas decorations are put away. It makes winter seem a little less boring.
Exactly, thanks Michelle!
Looks like fun! Love the glitz and colors! 🌈✨
Happy stuff!!
I love Mardi Gras decorations! I bought a bunch of masks at the dollar store knowing they don’t last long there. I just couldn’t resist! Love those mini King Cake crowns!
The dollar store, of course!! There’s very little Mardi Gras in Birmingham, I’ve got to get back to the coast and catch a parade or 2 in Feb! Thanks Lorraine!
Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler Jenna! I can only imagine all the fun (and calories 😉 consumed with all the festivities of Carnival Season!
As Rita commented, Southerners just like to party! 🎉
Checking out some of those delicious looking recipes!
Oh good, enjoy!
A holiday comes, and you see a reason to celebrate! I love that about you!! I spe3nt 3 years in New Orleans as a child and I do LOVE everything about N.O and Mardi Gras!! Laissez les bon temps rouler!
Aw, thanks Chloe, I do love a holiday! I bet you do have some great memories of living in NO!!
How creative and festive! Love the color coordinated fresh flowers!
Thanks Amber!
We are invited to a mardi gras party every year and asked to bring a dish. This year it is going to be that salad…it will go well with so much of the other food. Thanks for the inspiration.
Oh good, thank you Karen, enjoy the party!!
Pinning all your recipes! I love New Orleans and recently came back from a visit there. King Cakes were already on some of the restaurant menus and I bought one to take home!
Oh good, I hope you enjoy Pat!
These are some fabulous projects and recipes! Thank you so much for sharing! Hubby is from Louisiana but we live in NW Arkansas so we can’t find a good King cake for anything! Hoping that recipe you linked to is amazing, we miss King cake!
Thank you!! I like the crescent roll version of King Cake, it’s easy to make too, but they are all good!! Laissez les bon temps rouler!
Congratulations!
Your post is featured on Full Plate Thursday,467 today! Thanks so much for sharing your talent with us and sure hope you come back again!
Miz Helen
Thanks so much Miz Helen!
Thank you for sharing at #ThursdayFavoriteThings. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too!