There’s no bigger party tomorrow, so Lesley had the idea to dress in Mardi Gras colors. Of course that meant nothing to my mother and I who are very ignorant about Mardi Gras.
So instead of concentrating too much on the outfits, I’ll share some fun facts about the “holiday” including some memories from Lesley.
Quote of the day: “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” Maya Angelou
In case you didn’t realize, Mardi Gras colors are green, gold and purple. So we each decided to concentrate on one color and then add in some fun props. (Of course, my mom had to do extra credit and wear all three colors, LOL).
Fun Facts About Mardi Gras
1-Mardi Gras actually begins on epiphany which is January 6th and runs all the way until the day before Ash Wednesday which is called Fat Tuesday!
2– It is called Fat Tuesday because it’s all about excess….excess food, fun and friends!!
3-It was first celebrated in what is now Mobile, Alabama…not New Orleans where it’s the big party now!!
4-The weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday are full of parades sponsored by many different secret clubs (called Krews).
5-The centerpiece of the home parties is the King Cake. The cake is made of sweet batter and decorated with Mardi Gras colors. Baked inside the cake is a plastic baby and whoever gets the baby in their piece is to host the next party!
6-Throwing beads from the floats started as a tradition in the 1870’s.
Dress: Jostar~~Shoes: Franco Sarto
Lesley
I love how this outfit of Lesley’s really could work for anyday, not just for one about Mardi Gras colors. At least the outfit without the beads and cute head decor!!
As for more personal information, Lesley is sharing her history with Mardi Gras at the end of this post.
Let’s really notice 2 things about this wonderful look. One is how the leopard shoes and belt work so well with the purple. (Especially considering Lesley was NOT a leopard girl before she got wrangled into the blog as a model). And secondly, Lesley will tell you that her body is a zucchini shape (she’s funny that way), YET, she is wearing a belt. AND it looks nice.
So I’d like to remind us to get past that idea that a belt is bad. You may “think” you can’t wear one, but I bet you can!!
Pants: Josephine~~ Jacket: Zara-thrifted~~ Shoes: AK-thrifted
Charlotte’s Mardi Gras Colors
My mom decided to incorporate all the Mardi Gras colors into one outfit. The gold jacket was an amazing find at the thrift store here in AZ and trust me when I say, I’ll be “borrowing” it sometime!!
BTW, Charlotte wore this jacket in her wardrobe essentials post!
While I doubt many women have a pair of darker purple pants, they could be a great addition to your closet instead of the ever popular black pants. They are dark but still give a tad more interest to a look!!
Dress: Old Navy-thrifted ~~Boots: Thalia Soda
Jodie
I am a sucker for a sweater dress, and I found this at our Goodwill in Denver. I wore it once on the blog when the musical Elf inspired our outfits.
Notice how I wore different animal print boots both times?? I love how an animal print can give some sass to a solid colored outfit.
Thanks to Lesley for the scarf, so I styled ala her favorite way…sling in over one shoulder!! This works the best with Pashmina’s that aren’t too slippery.
History with Mardi Gras
Both my mom, Charlotte, and I really didn’t know much about this “holiday” until Lesley taught us a thing or two. Therefore, I’ll let Lesley take over from here:
“Since my mother grew up in New Orleans, she celebrated Mardi Gras every year. We grew up hearing stories about the fun of Mardi Gras. It wasn’t as wild as it has become now, but more like Halloween used to be. There were neighborhood parades as well as large city ones.
She was allowed to go to the neighborhood parades and she and her sister would dress in costumes and call out to the people on the floats for favors. Beads were the favors that were most popular, but they also got doubleoons (those are the coins), trinkets and candy.
We never celebrated as we were growing up in Denver, but the legend always fascinated me. I think I was won over with the costume/dress up aspect of the celebrations.
It’s the part of my creole blood and in my mind, I celebrate each year, usually with something simple like wearing Mardi Gras colors to work.”
Photo credit:Rob Filogomo
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Introduction
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a vast amount of information on various topics, including Mardi Gras. I can provide you with fun facts and insights about this holiday. Let's dive in!
Mardi Gras Colors
Mardi Gras colors are green, gold, and purple. These colors have symbolic meanings. Green represents faith, gold represents power, and purple represents justice. The tradition of using these colors dates back to the 1892 Rex Parade in New Orleans, where the colors were chosen to honor the visiting Russian Grand Duke Alexis Alexandrovich Romanoff, whose house colors were purple, green, and gold.
Origins and Duration of Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras actually begins on Epiphany, which is January 6th, and culminates on the day before Ash Wednesday, known as Fat Tuesday. The term "Fat Tuesday" refers to the indulgence in excess food, fun, and festivities before the start of the Christian season of Lent. Mardi Gras is celebrated in many parts of the world, but it is most famously associated with New Orleans, Louisiana.
Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama
Contrary to popular belief, Mardi Gras was first celebrated in what is now Mobile, Alabama, not New Orleans. The first recorded Mardi Gras celebration in Mobile dates back to 1703, when French settlers held a small gathering to mark the occasion. The tradition eventually spread to New Orleans, where it became the grand celebration we know today.
Parades and Krewes
In the weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday, there are numerous parades sponsored by different secret clubs known as Krewes. These Krewes organize and fund the parades, which feature elaborate floats, costumes, and throws. Each Krewe has its own unique theme and style, adding to the vibrant atmosphere of Mardi Gras.
King Cake and Tradition
A centerpiece of Mardi Gras celebrations is the King Cake. This cake is made of sweet batter and decorated with Mardi Gras colors. Baked inside the cake is a small plastic baby. According to tradition, whoever finds the baby in their piece of cake is responsible for hosting the next party or providing the next King Cake. This tradition adds an element of surprise and fun to the festivities.
Throwing Beads
The tradition of throwing beads from floats during Mardi Gras parades started in the 1870s. The practice began when a Krewe member dressed as Santa Claus started tossing small toys and trinkets to the crowd. Over time, the tradition evolved to include colorful beads, which became the most sought-after throws during the parades.
I hope these fun facts about Mardi Gras have provided you with some insights into this festive holiday. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!
