Monday, February 20, 2012

Mardi Gras Traditions

Today is Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday! 


KING CAKE



  1. Epiphany, which is celebrated in European countries, marks the coming of the wise men who brought gifts to the Christ Child. Epiphany is celebrated 12 nights after Christmas (January 6th) and people from all over celebrate by exchanging gifts and feasting. The King Cake is a popular custom that is still celebrated and represents the 3 kings who brought gifts to baby Jesus. 
  2. "King Cake Season" lasts from  Epiphany Day (January 6th) until Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday- the day before Lent. 
  3. A plastic baby (or sometimes a bean) is baked inside the King Cake, and the tradition is whoever receives the baby in their piece of cake must buy the next king cake host the next party. The small baby inside the cake is said to represent baby Jesus. 
  4. The tradition was brought to the area by colonists from France and Spain. The first documented King Cake parties date all the way back to the 18th century.
  5. King Cakes are in the shape of a circle and made out of a cinnamon filled dough. The cakes are hollow in the middle and then topped with icing and green, purple and yellow (the colors of Mardi Gras) sugars. 

List of traditions:

  • Krewes and their Royalty
  • Mardi Gras colors
  • Beads and Throws
  • Doubloons
  • The Golden Nugget
  • Masked Riders
  • Mardi Gras Balls
  • The Flambeaux
  • Mardi Gras Indians
  • Ceramic Masks
  • Mardi Gras Floats
  • Mardi Gras Parades 



Here are some resources to help you research a Mardi Gras tradition. 




http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/mardigras/mardigrashistory/

http://www.novareinna.com/festive/mardi.html


http://www.rexorganization.com/Tradition/

http://mardigrasday.com/mardigras/history.php

http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-mardi-gras-traditions.php


LIST 5 FACTS ABOUT YOUR TRADITION. PLEASE USE COMPLETE SENTENCES!!! You may also include a picture of your tradition!! 



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6 comments:

  1. Justin NewlandFebruary 21, 2012 at 8:32 AM

    My tradtion is The Flamebeaux. Here are the five facts.
    1. The Flamebeaux was established by the black carrier.
    2. The people use a Butane of fire to light the area of the parade.
    3. The Flamebeaux is a the sign of African American traditon.
    4. Visitors and tourists wear costumes of the salvation of Mardi Gras.
    5. The Flamebeaux is a rich event.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kendra KFebruary 21, 2012 at 8:36 AM

    My Mardi Gras tradition is Krewes and their royalty.
    1.The Krewes is someone that organizes the balls and parades during Mardi Gras.
    2.There are many Krewes and each Krewe have many members and a captain.
    3.The 2 largest Krewes are Zulu and Rex.
    4. The Krewes go all the way back to 1800's.
    5. A King and Queen preside over the parade in there own float.
    http://www.krewedecharliesioux.org/

    ReplyDelete
  3. Brandon R.February 21, 2012 at 8:41 AM

    My Mardi Gras tradition are the color are green gold and purpie.

    1.The purple, green and gold seen everwhere during carnival season can be attributed to Rex the original day time Mardi Gras krewe.
    2. Purple, green and gold are the offical colors of Rex and soon Mardi Gras.
    3.Today the Mardi Gras color are seen everywhere from costumes to beads to throws.
    4. Purple stands for justice, green for faith and gold for power.
    5. The color themselves have symbolic meaning.

    ReplyDelete
  4. BrooklynFebruary 21, 2012 at 8:47 AM

    (Beads and Throws) -


    1.During Mardi Gras people throw beads,cups, doubloons, and plastic trinkets. Constitutes a multi-million dollar industry and many Krewe members spend about $800 each on giveaway items.


    2.The tradition of throwing items from floats dates back to at least 1920.



    3.Back in the early days riders threw hand made glass beads that were imported from Japan and Czechoslovakia but now today's throws are made of plastic and are imported from China.



    4.In 1960 a man name Rex introduced double-sided coins minted with a Krewe emended on one side and the parade them on the other side, which are also popular.



    5.Other popular throws are frisbees, bobble heads, plastic figurines, hats, swords, plastic cups , and a variety of other trinkets that the Krewe has their own logo and art work on these products.

    ReplyDelete
  5. TavarisFebruary 21, 2012 at 8:51 AM

    My Mardi Gras tradition was doublooms .
    1. The tradition of doubloons started in 1960 by king Rex .
    2. Carnival doublooms are aluminum coin like objects.
    3. King Rex first started the doublooms.
    4. They threw it for a sign of respect .
    5. Doublooms are always at the party.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Chris GFebruary 21, 2012 at 9:13 AM

    My tradition is the golden nugget.

    1. The golden nugget are often called Zulu Coconuts or Mardi Gras coconuts.
    2. They threw coconuts because they were cheaper than throwing glass beads.
    3. Before they threw coconuts, they threw walnuts that were painted gold. This is where the name golden nugget came from.
    4. Now, people are not allowed to throw coconuts because people were getting injured.
    5. Now, coconuts are given to royaly and city officials.

    ReplyDelete

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