Celebrating Mardi Gras!
Mardi Gras is celebrated in a big way along the Gulf Coast
In Orange Beach, AL, where our beach house is located,
the town’s lamposts are decorated and mailboxes sport Mardi Gras bows
People decorate their doors and entry ways too
They have an annual parade with beads and trinkets
thrown from the floats
There’s a boat parade too, watch out for pirates!
The stores are full of Mardi Gras beads and decorations*
*you can get decorations on Amazon here
if the stores in your area don’t carry them
Even in Birmingham King Cakes**
arrive in the grocery stores in January
**If you want to make your own King Cake
you can use this recipe here and here and here and here
This year Fat Tuesday falls on February 13,
the day before Valentine’s Day
I’ve rounded up a few vignettes and tablescapes
to inspire you to have some Mardi Gras fun!
Purple, gold and green are the colors of Mardi Gras
Purple represents justice, green represents faith
and gold represents power
Have you ever wondered about the tradition
of the Mardi Gras masks?
Apparently they began centuries ago in Venice
where people celebrated Carnevale
People wore them
so they wouldn’t be recognized while they partied and carried on
The masks gave men a chance to flirt and seduce women
without being recognized source
You can add a Mardi Gras mood with flowers
Or a Mardi Gras wreath
Most people in the USA associate Mardi Gras
with Bourbon Street and New Orleans
Actually it was the French settlers in Mobile, AL
who established the first organized Mardi Gras celebration
In 1711 the first Mystic Society, or krewe was formed
Social events begin in November and continue
through January and February with balls and parades,
continuing up until Midnight of Fat Tuesday,
the eve of Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent
Fat Tuesday is the day before the Christian season of Lent begins
It is referred to as Fat Tuesday because it
“reflects the practice of the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before
Lenten sacrifices and fasting of the Lenten season”
You can serve some Mardi Gras food with
Bourbon Recipes for Mardi Gras
Let the good times roll~
Laissez les bon temps rouler!
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Sundays on Silverado/ Happiness is Homemade
What’s for Dinner / Love Your Creativity
Between Naps on the Porch / Monday Linky Party
Wednesday Linky Party / Karin’s Cottage Linky Party / Creative Crafts
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We have a Mardi Gras party on Feb 13th, and I can’t wait. Should be a lot of fun. Your bourbon recipes look fabulous, I definitely want to try the Brussels sprouts with bacon!
Thanks Carole, the Brussels and bacon is one of my favorites. Have fun at your party!
I was fortunate enough to be in New Orleans and celebrate Mardi Gras. Boy, is it fun! You must enjoy this Mardi Celebration in your town. Your King Cake looks outstanding.
Thanks so much Bernadette!
All so festive and fun!
It’s a very big deal on the Gulf Coast, lots of parties and fun!
Well Jenna thanks for revealing the history of Mardi Gras! Who knew!!! Enjoy the festive celebration – looks like you are delightfully ready!
Thanks so much Mary, it’s a lot of fun!
Wow, definitely a party season! I did not know its origin was in Mobile, good to know. Fantastic roundup, Jenna.
Thank you Rita, they even close the schools on Fat Tuesday!
Jenna, the Bourbon Laced Caramel Apple Bread Pudding sounds delicious. I have never been to New Orleans or Mobile for Mardi Gras. I did know it had originated in Mobile. It looks like Orange Beach has a fabulous celebration! Love all of your Mardi Gras decor, it is so fun and festive. I have been to Venice a couple of times and have seen shops loaded with elaborate masks. I almost bought one for a souvenir! Hopefully we thaw out beginning tomorrow!
Thank you Pam, I bet the masks in Venice are amazing! I have a good friend in Orange Beach that was elected Queen of her crewe one year and she had so much fun riding on the float in the parade and doing her queenly duties!
WOW! Looks like lots of fun. What wonderful Mardi Gras decor. I just love that bow! I might need to whip up some Mardi Grass fun for the grands. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thanks Cindy, it’s a lot of fun to celebrate Mardi Gras!
I love all your Mardi Gras pics and decorations. So fun to see during this wintry time of the year. We were in New Orleans many years ago during Mardi Gras for the Super Bowl. The Mardi Gras decorations were so fun to see and the King Cakes were delish.
Thank you for reviving my good memories!
Thanks Diane, I’m glad you got to experience it, so much fun!
Fun decorations! I love the vibrant purples of Mardi Gras!
Thanks Linda, I’m going to get a king cake today for the boys, after writing this post I have a craving for it 🙂
Great tablescapes Jenna….I used to order a King cake from a bakery in New Orleans and have used them in a celebration and then I learned to make it myself and enjoyed the cake even more. Thanks for the memories. Have a wonderful week. Hugs
Thanks Kari! What do you put in your King cake, I’d love to know!
This is so festive, Jenna. Here we never see Mardi Gras things — barely hear of them — so it’s fun to see how you do this!
It’s a huge deal in parts of the south, they even close the schools for several days because of all the parades and celebrations!
St. Louis has one of the biggest Mardi Gras celebrations in the nation, and yet I never observe this holiday. I’m not entirely sure why, perhaps because I just don’t have the decorations or tableware to use to celebrate. That said, I do love purple and green, so maybe I better get with it.
The above comment is from Pattie @ Olla-Podrida.
Oh Pattie, you should do a tablescape or a vignette, it’s such a fun holiday to celebrate! I didn’t know Mardi Gras was big in St. Louis, how fun!
Jenna, this all looks like such fun! We don’t celebrate Mardi Gras in Canada (at least that I know about) so it was interesting reading about the history. The colors and the masks are really fun too. I always think New Orleans too when I hear about Mardi Gras and I didn’t realize that it started in Mobile AL. Very cool. I hope you have a wonderful Mardi Gras celebration!
Thanks Kim, it’s such fun to go to a parade and see all the crazy decorations! They even close the schools in some places!
I love seeing all the decorations! So festive!
Your King Cake looks delightful!
Have a wonderful week!
Thanks Nancy, Let the good times roll!
Looks like fun! Love the flower one especially- but all so festive!
Thanks so much Jill, it is tons of fun!