Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" , referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday. Related popular practices are associated with celebrations before the fasting and religious obligations associated with the penitential season of Lent. Popular practices include wearing masks and costumes, overturning social conventions, dancing, sports competitions, parades, etc. In other words if I'm going to give up something on Ash Wednesday I'm going to go completely crazy the day before to make up for it.
The Celebration is typically decorated in three colors purple, green and gold which symbolize,
Purple represents Justice; Green represents Faith; Gold represents Power. One item that is incorporated into almost every Mardi Gras celebration is beads of every size, shape, and color. Thus picture parades with floats all decorated in purple, green and gold driving down the street with beads flying everywhere and you pretty much have the theme.
Now that you have that image through in food with names like King Cake, Dirty Rice, Jambalaya and Gumbo and now we are talking. Thats enough carbs to kill a small horse let alone you and I.
Who says Halloween comes once a year
So there you have it, glutteny, dancing, beads flying, and the best part when it's all said and done your giving up something for religous good. Leave it to Louisiana.
