Digital News Report – Every year, New Orleans turns into a major party as Fat Tuesday rolls around which is the day before Catholic Lent season begins on Ash Wednesday. The two week period of parades and parties have been also termed the Mardi Gras season.
Mardi Gras is French which translates to Fat Tuesday in English. This is one of the most famous Carnivals in the world, which the celebration begins the 12th night from the date of Epiphany. Celebrations of parades and masquerade balls go on up until the last day Fat Tuesday. This is the day before Ash Wednesday, or the beginning of the Christian Lenten season. Parades floats riders will throw out plastic colorful beads and other inexpensive prizes and toys to spectators.
The end of Mardi Gras is called the Meeting of the Courts where the King and Queen of Rex and His Royal Consort, the King and Queen of Carnival, meet with the King and Queen of the Mistick Krewe of Comus, which is the longest running Carnival organization.
What does the fleur de lis symbol Represent?
The fleur de lis meaning is a symbolic drawing of a lily or an iris. You will see it all over in European coats of arms and is really representative of the French. You will often find the fleur de lis symbol in areas that were settled by the French. Those areas were Quebec, St. Louis, Louisville, and Louisiana. The symbol is thought to mean ideals of purity, light, and is floral in its depiction.
For more information about the Mardi Gras Celebration you can read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans_Mardi_Gras