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