Mardi Gras wasn't always the drunken and debauched celebration popularized by late 20th Century New Orleans. The Gulf Coast tradition originated with French settlers in what is now
Mobile, Alabama. And in smaller towns all along the Gulf Coast you can get the traditional feel of a Family Mardi Gras:
Slidell, Louisiana is a town east of New Orleans, now considered a suburb; almost wiped out by Katrina and receiving little attention. But it seems to have had a better recovery according friends of ours who still live there.
More on Traditional Mardi Gras Celebration Monday.......
Mardi Gras is not something we have in the UK, too cold at this time of year anyway. However, Venice has a fantastic carnival in February, although I have never been to it. Only been there in Summer.
ReplyDeleteIn colder parts of the U.S that were settled by Scandinavians, we have the tradition of Snow and Ice Sculpture for the Pre-Lent season. This is also the practice in Quebec, and possibly we adopted it from them. The UK is too cold for Carnival and too warm for snow sculpture. With our range of temperature you get both.
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